iting about an
hour, advanced. Crossing Hook trench, which had been the enemy front line
in the morning and was now held by remnants of the 149th Brigade, they
moved down the slope towards Starfish and Prue trenches, the first
objective. They were met by a certain amount of machine-gun and rifle
fire, and had a few casualties, including Capt. Badcock, who was wounded.
The 6th Battalion continued to advance, however, until completely
checked by machine-gun fire, and then took cover in ditches and shell
holes. It was then discovered that there was a considerable gap on the
right, but by moving men in that direction touch was regained with the
9th Battalion.

About 3.30 a.m. on the 16th the Commanding Officer took up Z Company to
reinforce the front line, and the 5th Border Regiment also moved up at
the same time. The whole line was then pushed forward and straightened.
Battalion Headquarters remained in Clarke's trench.

Further orders were received to attack again at 9.15 a.m., but they never
readied the Companies, and nothing happened. Things were fairly quiet
during the day, and at night a shallow communication trench was dug over
the ridge and attempts made to improve the forward positions. Efforts
were also made to collect the Battalion into Companies, but on the 17th
the only parties under the control of Headquarters were half of W
Company, under Capt. Cook, part of X Company, under Lieut. Harriss, a
Platoon of Z Company, under Lieut. W.B. Hansell, and Y Company, in
reserve in a sunken road, under 2nd Lieuts. McVicker and Richardson. It
was known that other isolated groups were in positions in the front line.
One of these was organised for defence under orders of Private B.
McLinden of X Company, who subsequently received the Military Medal.

The chief obstacle to a further advance was an enemy strong point called
the Crescent. Accordingly a party was organised to attack it, consisting
of two bombing squads, one each from the 6th and 8th Battalions under 2nd
Lieut. J.F.G. Aubin, now Brigade Bombing Officer. Leaving by way of
Crescent Alley at 6 p.m., they met with considerable shell fire and were
disorganised. Re-forming, however, they went out again with the same
result. The shelling proved to be the preliminary to an attack on the
150th Brigade, which was beaten off, Y Company being used to assist their
neighbours with Lewis guns.

The following day (18th) was misty, and it was thought that the Germans
were ev