infantry a start of 10 mins or about 500 yards before the Germans would open their barrage. It should be mentioned that the liaison between the artillery & the tanks in preparing for this operation left much to be desired. Almost at the last moment it was found that the guns from some of their positions could not clear the tanks & alterations had to be made. All this should have been worked out beforehand between the Officer Commanding Tank Brigade & the Commander, Royal Artillery, of the Corps. At 6.10am it was a perfectly still morning, not a gun was firing. A few Verey lights were being fired from the German lines, it was still dark but at 6.20 one could see 400 to 200 yards in front. This was all the tanks required. Punctually at 6.20 the guns opened fire. From where we were standing the bursting shells & roar of