would be in command of the
6th Battalion.

Orders were accordingly issued to Company Commanders verbally by the
Adjutant as follows: The Battalion is to occupy the line between Hill 37,
which can be seen on the left front, and Zonnebeke crossing, which lies
on the road. Captain Cummins's Company (A) will march on the crossing
and Captain Townend's Company (D) on Hill 37. Major Badcock's Company
(B) and Captain Devey's Company (C) will divide the space between.
Advance in artillery formation, take advantage of the cover afforded by
the ground, and each Company Commander should accompany one of his rear
Platoons. When Companies had gained suitable positions on this line they
were to deploy and attack by fire any bodies of the enemy who might
attempt to cross their front. The whole operation was under direct
observation by enemy balloons, and as soon as the Companies moved an
intense barrage was put down. B Company, on the right, however, had a
comparatively good time and suffered very few casualties, whilst No. 5
Platoon, under Lieut. A.B. Hare, had none at all, and reached Zonnebeke
Crossing in safety. The remaining Companies got the full effect of the
barrage, which included gas shells, and lost direction towards the left.
Capt. W.H.D. Devey, commanding C Company, was wounded, Capt. J. Monkhouse
killed, and 2nd Lieut. H.H. Nicholson wounded. As a result of the loss of
direction a gap was formed, and A Company were pushed forward to fill it.
In spite of heavy casualties the line was maintained, and continued to
advance, firing all the time on the enemy, who could be seen from the new
positions. It was not till they had advanced a considerable distance that
the officers and men found that there was another line of British troops
ahead of them, holding out in shell-holes, on hillsides, etc.

When this was discovered, Lieut. T.B. Heslop, with No. 11 Platoon and
part of No. 9 Platoon, joined the London Rifle Brigade; 2nd Lieut. R.V.
Hare, with No. 10 Platoon, joined a Battalion of the Shropshire Light
Infantry, and 2nd Lieut. G. Angus, with the remainder of No. 9 Platoon,
took up a position in support on the hill. By this time A and D Companies
were in the forward positions. As already described, A Company had moved
up to fill the gap between B and C Companies, and D Company had also
moved to the assistance of C Company. As a result, the men of all
Companies were mixed together, and it is difficult to say how they were
dist