Our trench strength at the time was very weak, because two days later we were to raid the enemy’s lines opposite Monchy salient, and the raiding party had been left out of the line at Pommier to practice.  At 3-30 a.m. on the 4th the Boche, either annoyed at our wire-cutting, or to celebrate his favourite anniversary, the declaration of war, opened a heavy fire with guns, mortars, rifle grenades, coloured lights and everything else imaginable.  The noise was terrific, and the C.O. and Adjutant rushed to the Defence Scheme to find what was the correct message to send; most of the noise was at trench 86.  They decided to tell the Gunners “assist L,” but, between F.O.O. and signals, this reached the Artillery as “assist 86,” which was meaningless, so they did nothing.  Meanwhile, our Lewis Guns could be heard, so Col.  Jones, unable to telephone to Companies whose lines were all cut, finally sent the S.O.S.  The reply was prompt and terrific.  There was plenty of ammunition, and all the gunners, wakened by the bombardment, were only too anxious to shoot, so that within a few minutes every weapon, from an 18 pounder to a 12” gun on railway mounting, was raining shells into Monchy and its surroundings.  It was very effective, but none the less there had to be an enquiry into “who had dared to use the S.O.S.,” and, when the facts were all brought to light, the F.O.O., Lieut.  Cave, partly responsible for the initial mistake, earned the name of “S.O.S.  Cave,” which stuck to him till he left the Division.

The raid was not a great success.  For several days “C” Company, who were chosen for the task, carried out continuous practices at Pommier, first under Capt.  Mould, and later, when he had to go to Hospital with septic tonsilitis, under Capt.  Shields.  Capt.  Moore was at the Army School at the time.  The Infantry arrangements were made satisfactorily, but there was little or no opportunity for the Gunners to observe the result of their wire-cutting, with the result that, when the party went over on the evening of the 5th, they found no gaps.  The raiding party advanced in four groups, each group with bombers, bayonet men, and sappers for demolition work, and each under an officer—­2nd Lieuts.  Steel, Barrett, Heffill and Morris.  The party removed all marks of identification, but wore their collars turned up, and a small patch of white on the back of their collars for mutual recognition.

At 11-0 p.m. the party left our trenches and lay out in front of our wire, waiting for our bombardment, which 15 minutes later opened on the enemy’s front line.  The shooting was excellent, but the backward burst from our 6 inch Howitzers caused several casualties; amongst others 2nd Lieut.  Steel was badly wounded in the leg.  At Zero, 11-25 p.m., we advanced, but found no means of getting through the wire, while the Boche sent numbers of bombs and rifle grenades along the whole front.  The party acted very coolly and searched carefully for gaps,