Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
The War Diary for today records. D.20a.8.5. At 3.15am our preliminary bombardment started. At 5.50am our barrage opened and leading waves of the C and D Companies went over the top to time followed by B Company at distance of 100 yards. At 6.10am the 4th LINCOLNSHIRE REGT crossed our trench and went up in support. At 10.00am following message received by telephone, “half way to first objective, casualties light progressing satisfactorily”. At 6.20am first German prisoners began to come in helping many of our wounded. At 6.20am following message received. “First objectives taken, casualties light consolidation proceeding”. Consolidation proceeded with satisfactorily under rather heavy shell fire. We found all current emplacements smashed in by our artillery. We used B Company as defensive Company to our right flank. Our casualties up to now approximately 70 including Captain A. SILVER, 2nd Lt. J. C. SMITH. 11.30am news came through that the LINCOLNSHIRE REGT had taken all objectives and were consolidating. Our barrage fire continued practically all the day with all intensity hitherto unprecedented. The Germans also shelled the whole area continuously and our casualties mounted steadily. Battalion has moved to D.20a.8.5. 6.30pm owing to a misunderstanding certain troops holding front trenches in our Brigade sector were seen to withdraw. This unfortunately provided a more or less general retirement along the whole front. Although very few men of this Battalion left the trenches. By the efforts of officers the retirement was stopped at the old British front line and a general advance commenced. The trench system was all reoccupied and reorganisation of various units proceeded with by 7.45pm. During the day we captured 5 machine guns and 2 bomb throwers.