Another  misfortune occured in our next trench tour on September 11th, when a raid was attempted by Capt. Martelli in command of a party consisting of C Company and half A Company. The raid was to be carried out against enemy trenches opposite Railway Craters, at 1-45 p.m. It was caretully practised beforehand over a taped model. Unfortunately, the enemy were evidently aware of our intentions, probably divining that a raid was in prospect trom the fact of our having cut gaps in the wire, and whilst our men were forming up in No Man’s Land, they suddenly opened an intense bombardment, mostly of gas bombs, which fell right amongst
them. Our men immediately put on their box respirators, but in the dark it was quite impossible to advance with them on, and seeing that progress was impossible, Martelli, who was himself wounded, withdrew his party, suffering in casualties during the whole operation, three other ranks killed and 30 wounded.

C Company were again unfortunate the following night, when they were bombarded with heavy trench mortars and suffered nine more casualties.

[HISTORY OF 1/STH BATTALION SHERWOOD FORESTERS 1914-1919, By CAPTAIN WCC WEETMAN]

The casualties

307639 Pte Harry Wilson died of wounds in the 1st Casualty Clearing Station.

Missing

305673 Lance Sergeant Josiah Blythe aged 28 and from Sutton in Ashfield

306353 L/Cpl Herbert Charles Key aged 22 and from Newark

305324 Pte Walter Cecil Randall aged 20 and from Retford

325025 Pte Eugene Stewart aged 35 from Pothmahomack

325044 Pte Stanley Thorne