At zero—4.55 a.m. on August 21—the guns opened. Four minutes later the 125th Brigade launched their attack, fighting patrols of the 5th L.F. advancing, under a creeping barrage, which lifted at an average rate of 100 yards every four minutes, against Hill 140, a strong point better known as _The Lozenge_. The opening moves were of a peculiarly delicate nature as, owing to the paucity of guns, the whole of the artillery and most of the machine-gun fire had to be concentrated first to form the barrage for the 125th Brigade, in order to make sure of The Lozenge, which was the key to the position, before being switched off, at the appointed time, to make a barrage for the 127th Brigade, and again switched to the left when the advance on the second objective was timed to start, at two hours after zero. There was a heavy ground mist—sure precursor of a hot day—and the ill-luck as regards weather conditions, which for some years had attended British offensives, was absent at last. But though the mist served as a screen, it increased the difficulties of keeping touch. The Lozenge was a nest of machine-guns, and there was sharp and savage hand-to-hand fighting when the Bury men got in with the bayonet. They were better and more confident than the enemy at this game, and Jerry knew it; and when he found that he could not keep them from closing he realized that the game would soon be up, and his number also—or else his hands. The guns switched over to the right, and at the appointed hour, 5.50 a.m., the 6th Manchesters on the right and the 7th on the left went over the top, and the 127th Brigade’s first objective was also reached in good time, the barrage again assisting most effectively. A very difficult ravine had had to be crossed, with steep gradients down to and up from the Beaucourt—Puisieux road. This broken ground was defended by nests of machine-guns, but the friendly mist rendered their fire far less deadly than usual, and the Manchesters were able to get to close quarters. Many of the enemy were killed with the bayonet and a large number captured. At 6.55 a.m. the 125th Brigade started for the second objective, and soon overcame all opposition. The attacks had been made with vigour and courage, but these qualities would have been unavailing had there been any flaw in the organization, planning, and timing, or in the co-operation between the artillery, machine-guns, aircraft and infantry. There was none, and both first and second objectives were secured and consolidated. [Sidenote: _The Dovecot, August 21, 1918_]