OCTOBER 13TH 1916;
A dull day. We heard that we would either relieve the IRISH FUSILIERS in the trenches at night or , as the Colonel suggested, make a surprise night attack on DEWDROP TRENCH, one of the German strongpoints that had held up more than one attack. The C.O. was therefore asked to reconnoitre the ground in view of this attack. He went out with the two Coy officers who were present, the Scout Officers and a few of the more intelligent scouts, and after looking at the ground from a point of vantage, he decided that DEWDROP TRENCH could be taken by a surprise if the attack was made from a line to the N.E. of LESBEOUFS. The lie of the ground between DEWDROP TRENCH and this line would help the attack enormously and the Colonel was fully convinced that it would be a success.
However we received orders at 5.30pm to relieve the IRISH FUSILIERS in the trenches. The other two companies came up from GUILLEMONT and the battalion relieved the FUSILIERS.
The battalion front stretched from T4.b.5.9. to T4.d.9.7.
Two companies in the front line and two in support. ‘A’ Company were in BURNABY TRENCH. ‘C’ Company in FOGGY TRENCH. ‘D’ Company in left support in THISTLE TRENCH. ‘B’ Company in right support in SHAMROCK TRENCH.
The trenches were in a very bad state, no cover for any kind for officers or men, and the trenches had been very badly blown in. The night was somewhat lively during the relief but quietened down afterwards.
The 2ND ROYAL DUBLIN FUSILIERS relieved the 1st ROYAL WARWICKS on our right. Our battalion H.Q. was in OX TRENCH, behind of the hill W. of LESBEOUFS, about T9.b.5.31/2.
CASUALTIES FOR 13TH;
2 MEN KILLED; 5 MEN WOUNDED, 3 D.O.W..
Baird