| Regiment | 8th Royal Berkshire |
|---|---|
| Location | France, GERMAN OLD FRONT LINE |
| Entry | 1:0PM. Precisely at 1:0pm the Chlorine gas discharge began and was continued at intervals until 1:50pm. During this time smoke bombs were thrown out by our men from the front line trench. The wind seemed very favourable and carried the gas and smoke towards the enemy's trench. 1:50PM. The gas discharge ceased, the artillery lifted and the Battalion wire-cutters accompanied by men carrying smoke bombs went forward under cover of the smoke. During the whole time of the smoke discharge hostile machine gun fire from our right flank could be heard. 2:0PM. The remainder of the two companies in the front line went over. From reports I have since received it appears than only about six of these men reached the Estimate across the road owing to heavy machine-gun fire from the right flank which seemed to come from the direction of the CHALK PITS. These men remained at the Estimate until dark and then crawled back. 2:10PM. At 2:10PM a report reached me that our first lines had attained the road but were being enfiladed; I then ordered two platoons of the supporting companies to go over. As these men crossed our first line, the Machine Gun Officer, with his team, joined them. This Officer reports that by this time the smoke was beginning to thin and that his team only got about 75 yards beyond our parapet when they came under machine-gun fire and were cut down. From inquiries I have made from NCOs it appears that about fifteen men of this line reached the road but did not cross it. They report that there was little rifle fire from the German trench. Hand grenades were thrown at them from the enemy's trench, but these fell short by about ten yards. 2:20PM. The remainder of the Battalion went over, but were no more successful that the others in reaching their objective. During the night those men who had escaped crawled back to out front-line trench. I Attribute the failure of the attack to the inability of our artillery to silence the German machine-guns, and to the complete absence of support. 2nd Lieuts L.A. KLEMANTASK; G.B. COOTE; R.S.P. POYNTE; W.L.CLARKE; F.M. SUMPSTER; and F. GARDENNER joined from the 9th Royal Berkshire Regiment. |
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