14.10.1915: Battn relieved by Guards and ordered to take over HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT West face which had been captured. Owing to lateness of which only 3 platoons & 3 M Gun teams arrived before dawn & these were left with 5th Bn S.F. who took over. Capt HEATHCOTE with them.

War Diary [WO/95/2694]

Oct 14th. Still in reserve trenches. Wounded still being brought out. Enemy shelled communication trenches heavily. About 9 p.m. relieved by Guards & set off to Vermelles. Got lost in commn trenches for a time, but got to dump near Vs. about 4-30 a.m. – very tired. George Tagg killed.

[3289 Pte George William Beardsley]

As soon as it was dark enough we were told that reinforcements would be joining us to help stave off the expected counter attack, we thought it would be members of our own division, but instead it was members of the Guards Division, they had gone out of this trench system whilst we made this attack, now they were returning. They filed into the captured Redoubt and took over the position, we were informed that the Germans were preparing to attack and that our Regiment would remain along side the Guards to defend the Redoubt. It was very stimulating and heartening to see those fine six footers preparing to fight. The rush came about eleven p.m. by the Verey lights our sentries had seen the Germans creeping across No-Mans Land. We were told to let them approach to within a bombs through and then the command was given to let them have it. The Guards and us let them have such a withering fusillade of bombs, rifle fire and machine gun fire that the attacking force, what was left of them soon thought better of the attempt and skulked back to their trenches.

The following night October 14th my regiment was ordered to leave the scene of this battle and concentrate on the back area, we had the satisfaction of a feeling of some kind of success to our venture, but the cost had been very severe, I could not be sure of the exact figure but it was whispered at the time that the Division had sustained about one third casualties.

[2305 Pte Frank Longson]