All the notebooks were written on the right hand page and additions, photos, cartoons or other documents were added to the left hand page.

27^th July. 1916.         It was then said to be better so we started.  The further we got the thicker the shells fell until in the darkness it seemed as if half the Bⁿ would be wiped out.  They came down like hail.  There was a sickly sweet smell about so I halted to adjust gas masks.  With these on one could see nothing and it was impossible to advance so they had to be removed and we chanced it.

On the opposite page is a group photograph outside a chateau.

Fortunately there were very few casualties Capt. Parker was wounded & there were a few gas cases. 

The trenches we were to have occupied on arrival were found to be full of Warwicks so it was necessary to get the men into what shelter remained.  My Bⁿ H.Q. were occupied as a dressing station by the Norfolks and soon after the Warwick C.O. also appeared there.

Fortunately he had with him a copy of the attack orders which I had not received & I was just able to communicate them to the Coy Commanders in time.  The Barrage lines had been altered and the commencement of the bombardment advanced two hours.  We only just got under cover in time.

On the opposite page is a sketch plan of the Longueval area.

About half an hour before Zero the Norfolks reported that owing to very heavy casualties they would be unable to take their second objective.  I therefore decided to reinforce with my two leading companies, pass through and take the 3^rd objective with my two rear ones at the same time I asked the Warwicks to take my place and informed the Bde what I was doing.  I went forward myself to make sure the change in orders reached the leading coys and to put those following on the right road.  After a little delay I found the Norfolk headquarters in an old German cellar at X and informed Col Stone of the action taken.  To the east of North Road the Norfolks took their 1^st objective and were held up by a redoubt.  Pressing on with our right company they took the 2^nd objective and 100 prisoners.  Our right rear coy in turn passed through and reached the 3^rd objective, on the way Lt. Dyson’s platoon stormed a house & took 32 prisoners, linking up with the Division Royal Fusiliers on our right.  A German counter attack was driven off soon after reaching objective.  A considerable number of prisoners were taken.  These consisted of Brandenburghers including their Reg^tal Commander.  I directed that prisoners were to be used to carry back wounded, owing to this the prisoners eventually landed up in the next Corps’ cage much to the annoyance of our Corps Commander.  I believe this to be the first time prisoners were freely used for this purpose.

On the opposite page are two photographs outside a chateau.

On the west of North Road the Norfolks failed to take the 1^st objective owing to machine gun fire.  My leading left coy coming forward found them in the trenches waiting.  There was no room for our men so they very hurriedly had to dig in behind, the rear left coy coming up in turn, had to do the same.  They could not tell how long it would be before the Norfolks succeeded in taking the 1^st objective after which it would be their job to take the 2^nd and 3^rd.  Trench mortars were sent for to deal with the machine guns but owing to casualties never came into action.  The Norfolk bombers took one house but could not advance further.

On the opposite page is a photograph outside a chateau.

In the meanwhile we were having very severe casualties in the trenches about Y. 4 Officers 160 Other Ranks out of 10 Officers 342 men in the two Coys, and finally I ordered the 2 Coys to withdraw to Bⁿ H.Q. where they were more sheltered.  Communication throughout the operations was very difficult and chiefly by runner tho’ a telephone wire to Bⁿ H.Q. proved fairly reliable.  I remained throughout the operations in the cellar at X.

Capt Burton and Lts Hayhoe, Weymes and Holland were killed.  Lts. Rea, Milton, Illingworth and Hunter wounded, 303 men out of 23 Officers 807 men.