enade Stations at
Nos. 4, 3 and 2. If the whole of G11A was secured, a barricade was to be
erected about point D1 in place of D and an emergency one afterwards at
D.

In addition to the Battalion the following troops were to be at the
C.O.'s disposal. Two grenade teams from the 7th H.L.I. and as a reserve
two companies and three grenade teams from the 7th H.L.I., two grenade
teams from the 6th H.L.I. and two from the 5th A. & S.H. In order to
prevent confusion the grenade teams were lettered to correspond with
their allotted stations and each grenadier wore on his arm a red band
marked with the letter of his station, the reserves being distinguished
by prefixing the figure 2.

Special arrangements were made by Brigade signalling officers regarding
signal communication, and throughout the entire attack and afterwards
these arrangements worked admirably.

The attack was divided into two portions, that on G12 and the
communication trench leading into it from Sap 2 being named the East
Attack, that on G11A the West Attack.

The East Attack was carried out by "B" Company under command of Major
Findlay, with the assistance of two grenade teams from the 7th H.L.I.
The parties were specially detailed for certain objectives and shortly
before 2 o'clock the attacking parties were all in position. At 2.15
p.m. a mine was exploded at point E, and immediately the grenade teams
and assaulting parties were seen doubling forward to their objectives,
followed at a brief interval by the consolidating parties. Immediately
the positions were reached the erection of the barricade was proceeded
with. All parties reached their objectives without casualties, but very
shortly afterwards the enemy opened heavy shell-fire and some
rifle-fire. A number of casualties soon resulted. The consolidating
parties had a very stiff job to face, as these trenches had been
continually bombarded for some months, with the result that there was a
large amount of broken earth to be cleared away before reaching hard
undersoil. It was almost like working in sand. The work was continued
with great perseverance and after some hours our labours began to show
satisfactory results. About 9 o'clock the enemy launched a counter
attack against F and G barricades without success, and again at about
midnight a second counter attack also failed. Our casualties, excluding
those of the attached grenadiers, were two officers wounded, Lieut.
M'Culloch and Lieut. Dewar. Othe