and the men and officers were very keen about it. I felt quite confident that they would carry it through as indeed they did. The Artillery bombarded the support line most of the day with one 12 inch & two 6 inch howitzers and the front line & communication trenches with 4.5 howitzers and the 2 inch trench mortars, cutting wire at the same time with 18 pounders. The assault was to be carried out in three parties all the men of whom were told off for different duties. Some were detailed to search for prisoners, others to collect loot, others to blow in mine shafts and machine gun emplacements. Everything was carefully thought out even to the mens' clothing each man was given