Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
The War Diary for today records that the Battalion were in the front line in the Reutel sub sector. At 2.00am a deserter came in on the front occupied by B Company, he reached Battalion HQ’s about 2.30am and it was gathered that he belonged to 7th Division and that his Division was going to attack in the morning, having no stomach for the fight he came over. He was sent on to Brigade, and preparations were acted upon to meet the attack. A Company moved up into close support Papanui Switch and Peter Trench. The whole of D Company moved to Patu Support. D Company 9th Norfolk Regiment moved to the Reserve Line and came under orders of the Officer Commanding 9th Norfolk Regiment. At 6.21am Brigade advised that prisoner stated that the enemy’s attack would commence at 6.30am on front south of Beceleare – Menin Road in 2 waves. Infantry in front wave and Machine Guns in second wave. All Company’s advised but nothing happened. Our artillery continually active from 4.45am to 8.30am. Several of our guns firing short and dropping in vicinity of support line. Unconfirmed reports received from Division on our right that enemy were concentrating on Beceleare – Menin Road. Impossible to make good observation owing to heavy fog which prevented seeing more that 100 yards. At 9.00am Officer Commanding left front Company reported parties of men wearing packs had been dropping into trenches at J.11.d. 7.0 for about twenty minutes and an interval of 20 yards maintained between every two of them. At 9.45am guns opened on supposed concentration areas. Things gradually quietened down, the enemy making little or no response to our artillery work, our guns somewhat erratic and firing on our front and support lines. Day passed quietly after this and the 2nd Durham Light Infantry arrived in due course to carry out the relief, which was quite satisfactory and complete at 10.10pm. Battalion entrained at Birr Crossroads in two trains. Very slow journey. Casualties, other ranks A Company 1 wounded, D Company 1 wounded.