All the ground had been obliterated by shells, and No. 2 Company found its line with some difficulty and advanced to within 100 yards of the Quadrilateral, where it was held up by machine-gun fire. Captain Graham was killed by a shell during the advance, and Captain Fisher-Rowe took his place, but among other ranks the casualties were not heavy. There was nothing more to be done but to block the trench as far as they had got and consolidate the line. At 6 A.M. the whole Battalion made another attack, and attempted to seize the Quadrilateral in conjunction with the Fifty-sixth Division, but the place proved too strong. This time the Battalion lost heavily; Lieutenant A. V. L. Corry was killed, and there was a large number of casualties among the other ranks. [Sidenote: Sept. 13.] Next day the 1st Battalion Grenadiers was relieved at 2 A.M. by the 2nd Battalion Irish Guards, and went into camp at Happy Valley. That afternoon there was a conference of Commanding Officers, when General Corkran explained the dispositions for the impending attack. The 1st and 2nd Guards Brigades were to attack on the 15th, while the 3rd Guards Brigade would be in reserve. The orders issued by Brigadier-General Corkran are given below. 3RD GUARDS BRIGADE _Operation Order, No. 59_ 1. The Fourth Army will attack the enemy’s defences between Combles Ravine and Martinpuich on the 15th September, with the object of seizing Morval, Lesbœufs, Gueudecourt, and Flers, and breaking through the enemy’s system of defence. The French are attacking simultaneously on the south and the Reserve Army on the north. The Eighth Division are attacking on the right of the Guards Division and the Fourteenth on the left. The Division is attacking with the 2nd Guards Brigade on the right and the 1st Guards Brigade on the left. The forming-up areas are shown on the map issued to the C.O.’s. Tanks will be employed to co-operate with the attack. Information regarding their employment is forwarded separately. 2. The 3rd Guards Brigade will be in Divisional Reserve, and will be formed up on the night of the 14/15th Sept. in and east of Trônes Wood as follows: 4th Batt. Grenadier Guards, east of wood between railway and Montauban――Guillemont road. 2nd Batt. Scots Guards, north of railway in S.24.C. 1st Batt. Grenadier Guards, about the trench running north and south through the centre of the wood. 1st Batt. Welsh Guards and Machine-gun Company, less four guns, along the edge of the wood. Trench Mortar Battery in the vicinity of Copse S.24.C.50. A separate order is issued regarding the move to these positions. 3. At zero hour plus 1 hour and 30 minutes the Brigade will advance in the following order: