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At 6.30am 6 ofcers and 216 other ranks of B, D and HQ’s Company’s

reported in assembly area. They had not returned too long from working

parties (5.15am). and were somewhat exhausted, having marched ve miles

each way to work, and having done a heavy nights work. Some shelling

of Battalion assembly area during the morning, but no casualties were

sustained. No news was received from A Company whose battle position

was 1 platoon in C.29.a. Company less one platoon in Vaulx – Morchies

line.

At 7.30am wire received from Brigade advising that enemy were

concentrating in Corn Hill Valley.

At 9.30am Commanding Ofcer visited Brigade HQ’s and received verbal

instructions to move 2 Company’s owing to the enemy having driven in the

left front of the Brigade sector.

At 10.40am C and D Company’s were ordered to move. Ofcer Commanding

C Company to go to right Battalion HQ’s and place his Company at the

disposal of the Ofcer Commanding 9th Norfolk Regiment, and D Company

to hold the trench running from Lagnicourt Switch and C.29.b. 10.90 to

C.29.b. 90.70 to cover the southern exits from Lagnicourt, and trenches

C.29.b. 90.70 to C.30.a. 30.80. The reasons for the move were that

information had been received that the enemy was in Lagnicourt, and these

two Company’s were sent forward to protect the left ank of the Brigade, as

apparently Lagnicourt Switch was not held and enemy had broken through,

reaching C.28.b. 90.90 and the strong point C.29.a. between 10.00 and

11.00am.