The attack of October 9th had not been a complete success, but a very important advance had been made. The first objective had been carried practically in its entirety, and, in front of Peter Pan, a new line had been established some distance beyond it. But the second objective had not been reached. The most important success was the establishment of a line, well beyond the Ravebeke, along the whole front. This stream was a most serious obstacle, and the consolidation of a line to the east of it provided a good jumping-off ground for the troops who were to attack later on the same front. The difficulty of the operation may be judged from the fact that an attack launched from the new line a few days later by the New Zealanders failed to gain an inch of ground, and that the second objective of the 49th Division on October 9th was only just reached three weeks later by the Canadians, who had come up quite fresh to make the attack. The operation of October 9th was one of the first of that awful series of attacks on the Passchendaele Ridge which failed to obtain a full measure of success owing, not to the opposition of the enemy, but to the appalling condition of the ground. That the work done by the 49th Division was appreciated by the higher commands is shown by the following message from the G.O.C., 2nd Anzac Corps, under whom the Division had fought:-- “Following message has been received by me from Army Commander, begins:-- ‘Please accept and convey to all your troops engaged to-day my heartiest congratulations on success achieved. General Plumer.’ The Commander-in-Chief also called here to-day and wished specially to congratulate you and your Division. I wish also to add my high appreciation and thanks to you personally and to all ranks of your Division on having done so much under such arduous and trying conditions. General Godley.” The G.O.C., 49th Division, in a Special Order of the Day, wrote “Nothing could be finer than what the Division accomplished.” The G.O.C., 146th Infantry Brigade, in a personal letter to the Commanding Officer, said “I cannot thank you enough for the cheerful and thorough way in which all my orders were carried out.” While the Battalion’s own Brigadier, referring to the response of his troops when ordered up to support the other Brigades of the Division, said “Officers and men, though thoroughly exhausted, at once forgot their fatigue and advanced through the enemy barrage in the most gallant style worthy of the best traditions of the Army.” [Illustration: _Belle Vue Spur 9.10.17._] (_c_) Rest and Reorganisation.