The first objective, which was to be the main line of resistance, ran through the road junction at the east end of Fontaine to the northern edge of Bourlon Wood. The second objective was the station and the eastern outskirts of Fontaine, which was to become the outpost line. The 3rd Battalion Grenadiers was to be on the right, the 1st Battalion Coldstream in the centre, and the 2nd Battalion Irish Guards on the left. The first objective of the 3rd Battalion was half-way through the village, including the church on the right, after which it was to push its outposts on to the road leading from Fontaine to La Folie Wood.
As soon as Colonel Thorne received his orders, he rode off, and collected the Company Commanders, as the Battalion was moving through Flesquières. Detailed orders were dictated, and the maps were carefully marked. Two hours later the Company Commanders overtook their companies, and the relief began. No. 1 and No. 3 Companies, under Lieutenant Bowes-Lyon and Second Lieutenant G. Hoare, were to form the first line, with No. 2 and No. 4, under Captain Beaumont-Nesbitt and Captain Hughes, in support.
The following officers took part in the attack:
Lieut.-Colonel A. F. A. N. Thorne, D.S.O. Commanding Officer. Capt. E. D. Ridley, M.C. Second in Command. 2nd Lieut. C. C. Carstairs Intelligence Officer. Lieut. G. P. Bowes-Lyon No. 1 Company. 2nd Lieut. H. St. C. Cooper ” ” 2nd Lieut. E. C. Long ” ” Capt. W. H. Beaumont-Nesbitt, M.C. No. 2 Company. Lieut. J. F. Worsley ” ” 2nd Lieut. C. B. Hollins ” ” 2nd Lieut. G. H. R. Hoare No. 3 Company. 2nd Lieut. A. C. Knollys ” ” 2nd Lieut. W. B. Ball ” ” Capt. J. S. Hughes No. 4 Company. 2nd Lieut. C. W. Carrington ” ” 2nd Lieut. Sir J. L. Hanham, Bart. ” ” Lieut. H. Dearden, R.A.M.C. Medical Officer. Capt. the Rev. S. Phillimore Chaplain.
The night was bitterly cold, with snow and sleet soon after midnight. At 5.30 A.M. Colonel Thorne, accompanied by the Intelligence Officer, Lieutenant Carstairs, went round the line and found all the companies ready for the attack, which started at 6.20, after a very short and light artillery preparation. It was practically dark, and as the sleet had turned to a steady drizzle of rain it was difficult to see more than a few yards ahead. The tanks were late, but it was decided not to wait for them, and the signal to advance was given. Directly the 3rd Battalion left its trenches, it was met by a heavy machine-gun fire from a small house 200 yards to its right front, as well as from the line of trenches, just east and south of Fontaine, and began to suffer casualties. On reaching the German line, the wire was found to be uncut, and this, combined with the absence of the tanks, nearly ruined the success of the whole movement.