To have to select a definite objective after dark made things very difficult, since the final disposition depended upon the attack of the 16th Brigade, and whatever happened an indefinite front line would be the result. If the 16th Brigade succeeded, Seymour’s Brigade would simply relieve it, but if it failed the attack would have to be attempted a second time. These considerations alone made it necessary to work out alternative schemes. Lord Henry Seymour fortunately prepared a detailed plan for the worst event, and fully realised that his Brigade was to be employed in a manner generally accepted as impossible, except in a great emergency, involving the advance of infantry, unsupported by artillery, across the open against an enemy occupying trenches, and houses bristling with machine-guns. The following officers took part in the attack on Gonnelieu: Lieut.-Colonel Viscount Gort, D.S.O., M.V.O., M.C. Commanding Officer. Major W. S. Pilcher, D.S.O. 2nd in Command. Capt. C. R. Gerard Adjutant. Capt. M. Chapman Intelligence Officer. Capt. H. H. Sloane-Stanley No. 1 Company. Lieut. C. E. Irby ” ” 2nd Lieut. J. M. Chitty ” ” 2nd Lieut. B. J. Hubbard, M.C. No. 2 Company. 2nd Lieut. R. C. Denman ” ” 2nd Lieut. D. E. A. Horne ” ” Capt. J. B. M. Burke, M.C. No. 3 Company. Lieut. the Hon. A. H. L. Hardinge ” ” Lieut. L. R. Abel-Smith ” ” Capt. G. H. T. Paton, M.C. No. 4 Company. Lieut. B. C. Layton ” ” 2nd Lieut. J. J. M. Veitch ” ” When the news of the failure of the 16th Brigade’s attack reached Lord Gort, he at once started off with the Battalion, and crossed the Villers Plouich road. On reaching the railway the companies extended, and dug themselves in. There they waited in the dark for zero hour. The order of battle for Seymour’s Brigade was as follows: The 1st Battalion Welsh Guards on the right and the 4th Battalion Grenadiers on the left were to undertake the attack. The 1st Battalion Grenadiers was in support on the left, and had to protect the left flank as the attack advanced, while the 2nd Battalion Scots Guards had already occupied the high ground about Villers Plouich. In the 4th Battalion No. 2 Company under Second Lieutenant Hubbard on the right and No. 3 under Captain Burke on the left formed the first line. No. 4 Company under Captain Paton was in support, and No. 1 under Captain Sloane-Stanley formed the reserve. Captain Chapman was sent forward to establish a forward Battalion Headquarters. [Sidenote: Dec. 1.]