3rd May 1917 (War Diary)

May 3

Zero was at 3.45am

"A" Coy moved forward to HERON trench

"B" to GANNETT and

"C" to EGRETTThe Bn was not asked upon to take active part in the ? , our role was to support the attack when ordered.

The blue line was captured with little resistance.

The red line was captured E. of CHERISEY.? left of the dirt front failed owing to heavy M.G fire from TRIANGLE WOOD.

A heavy counter attack was made by the enemy and owing to both flanks being ? in the air, the brigade had to withdraw.

The first formation of the actual withdrawal came from the forward coy in HERON trench, meanwhile the battalion was subjected to a violent bombardment of 5.9 shells which targeted all trenches from HERON to EGRETT.

afterwards lifting to DUCK trench and the COJEUL Valley so that these were symptoms of the counter attack being intended to reach the high ground by WANCOURT Tower.

Our ? was at ? placed on the BLUE line and afterwards put back to ? line.

The divisions on both flanks who failed to hold their objectives.

Casualties Capt. R.C Brown MC wounded 2/Lt B.Foster shellshock

26 O.R. killed, 27 wounded, 9 shellshock. see appendix 77a for list.