bombardment was small, but it seemed to us at the time terrific, and it
was very encouraging to see direct hits on the mine workings and the
various trenches. The enemy retaliated mostly on communication trenches,
using some very heavy shells, but not doing a great deal of damage. At 1
p.m. chlorine gas was discharged from cylinders packed in our front
line, and at the same time a quantity of smoke bombs and mortar shells
were fired towards the Redoubt by parties of our Divisional Artillery
who were not covering us in the battle. The enemy at once altered his
retaliation targets, and opened a heavy fire on our front line, trying
to burst the gas cylinders, and succeeding in filling the trench with
gas in three places by so doing. At 1-50 p.m. the gas and smoke was
gradually diminished and allowed to disperse, and, ten minutes later,
wearing gas helmets rolled on their heads, the leading waves moved out
to the assault.

The start was disastrous. Colonel Martin and his Adjutant were both
wounded, Colonel Sandall was wounded and his Adjutant killed in the
first few minutes, and the machine gun fire along the whole of our
front was terrific. Still, the nature of the ground afforded them some
protection and they pushed forward, losing heavily at every step, until
they had crossed the first line of the Redoubt. The 4th Lincolnshires
and Monmouthshires followed, and we moved up towards the front line so
as to be ready if required, and at the same time a party of our
Signallers went forward to lay a line to the newly captured position.
L.-Corpl. Fisher himself took the cable and, regardless of the machine
gun fire, calmly reeled out his line across No Man's Land, passed
through the enemy's wire and reached the Redoubt. Communication was
established, and we were able to learn that all waves had crossed the
first German line and were going forward against considerable
opposition. Meanwhile, on the right the Staffordshires had fared far