Sir John Monash, Personal Files Book 15, 10 May - 9 June 1917, Part 17

REPORT ON OPERATION OF 44TH BATTALION FROM

Y/Z NIGHT UNTIL BATTALION LEFT OFFENSIVE AREA.

On the night of 6th/7th June 1917 the Battalion was billetted

at the CATACOMBS  as part of the reserve Brigade.

At 9.30 pm on the 7th June 1917 the Battalion paused under the

control of the 10th Infantry Brigade for action, and at 10.30 pm

received instructions to proceed to the BLACK LINE near MESSINES

from U.9.70.55. to U.3.d.40.90. and form up ready to attack the

GREEN LINE at 3 a.m. Owing to the late receipt of instructions the

Battalionwas not in position for attack until 3.20 am. at which hour

it attacked with companies in the following order.

B Coy on left flank, C Coy in centre, and A Coy on the right.

Before the attack Headquarters was informed that a company of

the 40th Battalion held the line from the DOUVE RIVER at U.10.a.05.60.

While the attack was in progress information was received that this

was not do, and two platoons from D Coy (reserve company) were sent to

take and hold the right flank. The attack was succesful and the

GREEN LINE was taken, but as the 12th Brigade had not come up on our

left flank, it exposed our flank which had to fall back forming a 

defensive flank. The line then held stretched from U.4.a.15.40 to

U.4.a.40.40. thence to U.4.a.50.05. thence to U.4.a.50.80. thence

along the GREEN LINE  to the 3RIVER DOUVE. This was the. line held at

3.45 am. At 5 am the 47th Battalion came upon our left and

occupied a line running northward from the junction of OWL TRENCH

and HUNS WALK. The left flank of the Battalion then moved forward

and connected up with them crossing UNCANNY TRENCH at U.4.a.45.50.

This was completed by 6 am and consolidation rapidly proceeded.

At 11 am an intense enemy bombardment came down and lasted until 8.30

a.m.  At 3am on the night 8th/9th June 1917 the 40th Battalion

moved in and occupied OWL support trench. At noon instructions were

received from Headquarters to B and C companies that they must move

forward and occupy the GREEN LINE connecting up with the 48th Battn.

on their left. Heavy opposition was met with from snipers and machine

guns, but this was accomplished by 3 pm and the consolidation of the

new line immediately put in hand. The line now held therefore stretched

from U.4b.05.72. to U.4.a.90.15. thence U.4.e.70.90. thence in 

a general line to U.4.c.20.03. thence to the LA DOUVE RIVER at

U.10.a.05.60. At this point we connected up with the 9th Brigade. 

Throughout the whole of the 9th June 1917 machine guns and snipers were

very active and a steady bombardment was maintained on us by the 

enemy. A patrol was sent out by B Coy. to examine a hedge running from 

HUNS WALK at U.4.b.20.60. to U.4.b.30.20. at 4 pm, two snipers were

found and dealt with! and the patrol after furthersearching the hedge

and finding same all clear returned. A patrol was sent out by D Coy

at 4 pm to the point U.4.C.90.io. to reconnoitre but were driven back

casualties 1 killed 5 wounded. A Coy sent a patrol to the pointU.4C.90

50. to examine that portion of UNDULATING TRENCH and if possible to

establish a standing patrol. At this time the trench was found to be

fairly strongly held by the enemy and it was estimated that there were 

about 100 Germans in this portion of UNDULATING TRENCH and the format

on a standing patrol not possible. At 4.30.pm. a S.O.S. barrage was

put down by our own artilleryand B Coy and part of C Coy were forced to 

retire from the Green Lineinto shell holes in rear of our line owing to

short shooting of one of our Batteries. This was reported and afterwar

corrected. Then the barrage ceased at 5.15pm. the GREEN LINE was agai

reoccupied. Steady shelling by the enemy over the whole of the capture

sector continued throughout the night. At 5.pm. on the 10th June the

the heavy batteries commenced shelling the La Potterie System of trenc

es where Huns were known to have massed and a counter attack was expecte