y did not belong to
our division.

Our company commanders gathered us in small groups and carefully
explained the plan of attack. We were to take the three lines of
German trenches that were clearly discernible on the aeroplane
photograph which was shown us; the first wave was to take the first
trench, the second jumping over their heads and attacking the second
German line, the third wave going on to the third German line. When
all the Germans had been killed in the first trench, those left of the
first wave were to follow to the third line. Unfortunately this
photograph misled us, as one of the supposed trenches proved to be a
ditch, and a great number of men were lost by going too far into enemy
territory, seeking the supposed third line.

I have seen an actual photograph taken by an aeroplane during this
battle, that shows a fight going on five miles behind the German lines.
Many of the boys had sworn not to be taken prisoners, and though they
knew they were cut off, they fought on until every last one of them was
killed.

The Germans were thoroughly aware of our intentions to attack. Bad
weather made a postponement for a couple of days advisable, and there
had been so much artillery preparation that the enemy had time to get
ready for us.

Considering the short time that our own artillery had been in their
positions, and that they did not know a few days previously the range
of the enemy's positions, their work was very thoroughly done. In most
cases the wire had been well cut, and the enemy's front-line trenches
were badly smashed about.

The Germans must have had some spies behind our lines, for they knew
the actual moment of attack, and our _feints_ failed to deceive them.
Before the real attack the bombardment would cease for a moment or two,
whistles being blown, orders shouted, and bayonets shown above the top
of the parapet. The _idea_ was that the Germans would then man their
parapet to meet our attack, the artillery again opening fire on the
trench. They failed to appear, however, until we actually went over
the top, then the machine-guns and rifles swept a hail of bullets in
our faces, like a veritable blizzard.

Nothing could exceed the bravery of those boys. The first wave went
down like "wheat before the reaper." When the time came for the second
wave to go over there was not a man standing of the first wave, yet not
a lad faltered. Each gazed at his watch and on the arranged tick of