ht company ("A") was withdrawn about 50 yards
to clear our barrage; at the same time small parties of the enemy were
seen withdrawing from his front line. At this stage of the attack there
was a gap of some 1500 yards between our left and the nearest troops on
their outer flank. At 10 a.m. our barrage still fell, entirely from
heavy artillery. Captain Fyfe then consulted the O.C. 6th H.L.I.
(Colonel James Anderson, D.S.O.) as to the advisability of pushing on
through it. They decided to remain in the present position. By this time
numerous wires had been sent asking the guns to stop. At 10.30 a.m.
Captain Parr took over command. At 11.15 a.m. our heavies stopped and
two platoons of "A" Company and two platoons of "D" Company under
Captain L.H. Watson advanced against the Hindenburg Line. The wire was
exceptionally thick and strong and had not been destroyed by our fire
and on it the enemy concentrated heavy machine-gun and trench-mortar
fire. Casualties were heavy and at 12.15 p.m. the assaulting platoons,
being unable to get through the wire, withdrew to their old line to
allow the trench-mortar and machine-gun fire to be neutralised. At 1.15
p.m. the Brigade commander came to Headquarters and an assault with the
6th H.L.I. was arranged to follow a fifteen minute bombardment on the
Hindenburg front and support lines. Zero time for the assault was fixed
at 3.45 p.m. No bombardment took place till 3.43 p.m. At 3.46 p.m. the
same assaulting platoons again advanced. The wire again caused a serious
check, but by 5 p.m. was penetrated, but there was still 300 yards to
be traversed before reaching the enemy's front trenches, and when
crossing this part continuous trench-mortar and machine-gun fire came
from the enemy's left flank, which was not being attacked. A platoon of
"C" Company was sent up to prolong the left flank, taking up reserve
S.A.A. At 5.30 p.m. the enemy opened a heavy bombardment, but a quarter
of an hour later an assault had been made and a footing obtained in the
first objective. This was all, however, as there was no support on the
left. Touch had been lost on the right and from both sides and the front
a counter attack had commenced. This might have been successfully dealt
with had casualties not been so heavy. As it was the officers in the
trench rightly ordered the men back and the small part of the Hindenburg
Line captured was evacuated, a few of our men being unfortunately
captured. Only two German pris