At zero--1.45 P.M.--the stationary barrage was put down, and at 1.47 it began to creep forward. In these two minutes three Stokes mortars with the 60th Brigade (the fourth had just been buried by a shell) fired 180 rounds on the German front line. The assaulting battalions moved forward close under the barrage with two companies in front and two in support, and with each company in two lines, thus forming four waves. With the fourth wave of each battalion were four machine guns from the 60th and 61st M.G. Companies. The lending companies, advancing, according to a report from an officer in an observation post, “as though on Salisbury Plain,” came under heavy fire as soon as they reached the crest of the slope, which was about twenty yards short of the enemy wire. Some of the wire was still standing, at least on the front of the 60th Brigade, and for a short time held up the first two waves. The casualties here were heavy. Of the five company officers in the two leading companies of the 12th R.B., four were killed between this point and the wire, and one was severely wounded; of the rank and file about half were casualties. The 6th Oxford and Bucks L.I. suffered almost as much. Many of their losses were caused by a machine gun in a sap close to the wire. The third and fourth waves were following close behind, and as they came up they carried the first and second waves with them and together they captured Rainbow Trench. The 61st Brigade had less trouble with the enemy’s wire, but suffered from very severe rifle and machine-gun fire from the left flank, where a heavy barrage had prevented the 12th Division from reaching its objective. As the troops came up to Rainbow Trench the enemy surrendered in large numbers. At one point in the attack of the 61st Brigade the two opposing lines were seen to meet; then there was a moment’s pause, followed by the advance of our line and the return of a large number of prisoners. On the left of this brigade more resistance was met and a hand-to-hand fight ensued before the Germans--or such of them as were able to get away--were driven out of the position. On the capture of the objective the first and second waves entered and held the trench, while the third and fourth formed up beyond it ready for the next advance. When, at 2.5 P.M., the barrage again began to creep forward the attack was continued in three waves, the third being composed of the original first and second, less some machine guns and a few parties of men left behind to form posts in Rainbow Trench. The losses in this advance were comparatively slight, although the Germans, for the most part, remained in the position throwing bombs until the attacking lines were close upon them. Many of the enemy were killed at the second objective, which was captured about 2.15 P.M. Cloudy Trench was found to be little more than a line of disturbed earth, and all along the line the troops had to dig themselves in.