The billets at Bellerive, consisting of large, clean farmhouses, were very comfortable, but we were not destined to stay there long, and on the 6th marched through Chocques to Hesdigneul, where there was less accommodation.  The following day there was a conference at Brigade Headquarters, and we learnt our fate.  On the 25th September, the opening day of the Loos battle, the left of the British attack had been directed against “Fosse 8”—­a coal mine with its machine buildings, miners’ cottages and large low slag dump—­protected by a system of trenches known as the “Hohenzollern Redoubt,” standing on a small rise 1,000 yards west of the mine.  This had all been captured by the 9th Division, but owing to counter-attacks from Auchy and Haisnes, had had to be abandoned, and the enemy had once more occupied the Redoubt.  A second attempt, made a few days later by the 28th Division, had been disastrous, for we had had heavy casualties, and gained practically no ground, and except on the right, where we had occupied part of “Big Willie” trench, the Redoubt was still intact.  Another attempt was now to be made at an early date, and, while 12th and 1st Divisions attacked to the South, the North Midland was to sweep over the Redoubt and capture Fosse 8, consolidating a new line on the East side of it.

Apart from the Fosse itself, where the fortifications and their strength were practically unknown, the Redoubt alone was a very strong point.  It formed a salient in the enemy’s line and both the Northern area, “Little Willie,” and the southern “Big Willie,” were deep, well-fortified trenches, with several machine gun positions.  Behind these, ran from N.E. and S.E. into the 2nd line of the Redoubt, two more deep trenches, “N.  Face” and “S.  Face,” thought to be used for communication purposes only, and leading back to “Fosse” and “Dump” trenches nearer the slag-heap.  The last two were said to be shallow and unoccupied.  In addition to these defences, the redoubt and its approach from our line were well covered by machine gun posts, for, on the North, “Mad Point” overlooked our present front line and No Man’s Land, while “Madagascar” Cottages and the slag-heap commanded all the rest of the country.  The scheme for the battle was that the Staffordshires on the right and our Brigade with the Monmouthshires on the left would make the assault, the Sherwood Foresters remain in reserve.  Before the attack there would be an intense artillery bombardment, which would effectually deal with “Mad Point” and other strongholds.  In our Brigade, General Kemp decided to attack with two Battalions side by side in front, 4th Leicestershires and 5th Lincolnshires, followed by 4th Lincolnshires and Monmouthshires, each extended along the whole Brigade frontage, while, except for one or two carrying parties, he would keep us as his own reserve.  The date for the battle had not been fixed, but it would probably be the 10th.