Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
The War Diary for today records. LE VERGUIER. 5.50am. Zero hour 137th Infantry Brigade attacked HINDENBURG LINE, crossed the canal and reached all objectives 400 yards east of the canal. Battn was not due to cross until after 11.00am and parade had originally been ordered for 9.30am. In view of fog however it was decided to start earlier. 8.45am. Fog was thick, impossible to see 5 yards Battn paraded near the QUARRY and started off in column of fours by track towards ASCENSION RIDGE. B Coy, 1 platoon, A and D Coy’s and Battn HQ Details lost touch and were lost. All N.C.O.’s sent forward as connecting files to keep in touch with the 5th Battn LINCOLNSHIRE REGT were lost. Lt Col J. L. GRIFFITHS consequently ordered Battn to keep as close up as possible and led them by compass straight across country to assembly position, ASCENSION TRENCH passed 10.50am. 10.35am. Battn formed up 100 yards west of “jumping off” tapes of 137th Infantry Brigade 1.6 on east side of front line ridge. Rested 40 minutes. Still no sign of B Coy or Details. Adjutant became temporarily lost but returned at 10.15am without his horse which he had, had to abandon in the fog. 11.20am Battn advanced to the canal in artillery formation A Coy (PETCH) right, C Coy (BANWELL) centre, D. Coy (CORAH) left. No reserve available unless B Coy turn up. Fog cleared and 5th Battn LINCOLNSHIRE REGT could be seen in front. Battn crossed canal by 2 dams and formed up on east side, in lines of sections in -?- formation. 12.00noon. Battn advanced and halted just west of crest of KNOBKERRY RIDGE while 4th Battn LEICESTERSHIRE REGT consolidated YELLOW LINE and 5th Battn LINCOLNSHIRE REGT pushed on to the DOTTED BLUE LINE. Tanks came up in a -?- late but delayed by fog difficulties opposite BELLICOURT. Australians and Americans could be seen on left but so far nothing could be found of SHERWOOD FORESTERS Brigade on right. 12.35pm. Battn again advanced to just behind DOTTED BLUE LINE. Tanks appeared on sky line south of MAGNY village and caused considerable shelling of our right flank which however found some cover in old trenches until time came to advance on final objective. The Padre Reverend C. B. W. BUCK C.F. arrived with platoon of D Coy, and Battn HQ Details. He had found them and led them up through the barrage and regardless of damage, arriving in time for the final advance. 1.40pm. Final advance started. Right flank heavily shelled at point blank range and several casualties caused. Objective reached everywhere and consolidation started opposite MERVILLE old mill a Brigade Battery could be seen limbering up. Patrol of C Coy could not be restrained and went at once through the barrage losing one or two men on the way, horses were killed and gun left, but men got away. 2.30pm. Barrage ceased A Coy (PETCH) consolidated trench junction 500 yards north of LEHAUCOURT and sent patrols down to the village getting into touch with the SHERWOOD FORESTERS Brigade who came up at this time. Battn in LEVERGIES and near LE TRONQUOY firing point blank caused considerable inconvenience. C Coy (BANWELL) consolidated sunken road north and south through the OLD MILL also suffering under point blank gunfire. D Coy (CORAH) consolidated forward edge of FOSSE WOOD and north as far as crest line on MAGNY – JONNECOURT ROAD, getting in touch with AUSTRALIAN CORPS on left. Owing to AMERICAN CORPS not having gained final objective, left wing somewhat in the air, and JONNECOURT not yet captured. Captured about 100 prisoners and 8 guns (5 77 mm 1 5.9 inch Howitzer and 2 4.2 inch long guns). 4.00pm. All men dug in, B Coy appeared and took up position in Reserve post north east of MAGNY village in old gun positions. Everybody hoping for arrival of 32nd Division to clean up the situation on the left flank. Shelling still very heavy. Battn HQ bombed by an aeroplane with British markings, no casualties. Captain C. B. W. BUCK C.F. killed by shell when going out with Medical Officer (Captain W. T. H. JACK ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS) to rescue some of the tank crews. 10 Tanks altogether put out of action by enemy shell fire. 5.30pm. 32nd Division arrived and marched through. Unfortunately they met with considerable resistance and were seriously held up by enemy field guns in JONNECOURT and LEVERGIES. These two villages were consequently not captured. Enemy shelled all positions very heavily with 77 mm and 105 mm shells. Several casualties caused. Outpost position taken up for the night.