Being told by the guide that it was quite safe to go over the top, he did so, with Sergeant Roberts and his runner, Private Woolridge, but hardly had they emerged when they found themselves in full view of the enemy, who fired at them from all directions. One bullet passed through Captain Spencer-Churchill’s steel helmet, scratching his face and knocking a piece of the helmet into his eye, while another grazed Sergeant Roberts’s ear. It was obvious, therefore, that any attempt to connect the two trenches would have to be made below the surface; as a preliminary, two long sticks with an empty sand-bag on top were put up in the farther trench, and proved to be easily visible from Gas Alley. In the meantime Lieutenant the Hon. E. W. Tennant, who had been left in Gas Alley, had occupied his time shooting at the enemy. Apparently there was some movement by the Germans which led him to shoot with his revolver, and a moment later he fell dead, shot through the head by one of the enemy’s snipers. The men of No. 4 Company now set to work to connect the two trenches, and managed to complete the work, though in the gathering dusk they had at first some difficulty in hitting off the exact spot.
That night the 4th Battalion was relieved by the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards and retired to Bernafay Wood. Captain Spencer-Churchill’s eyes were now giving him great trouble, and his sight became so much affected that he had to be led by his orderly. At Bernafay Wood the surgeon insisted on giving him a tetanus injection and sending him down to hospital. The command of the Company therefore devolved on Second Lieutenant D. O. Constable. During the next two nights the 4th Battalion was again engaged in digging communication and assembly trenches, and had some casualties. On the 24th the orders for next day’s attack were issued, and at night the 4th Battalion took up its position in the line.
The officers of the 4th Battalion who took part in the attack of the 25th were:
Major (temp. Lieut.-Colonel) Lord Henry Seymour, D.S.O. Commanding Officer. Lieut. (temp. Captain) R. S. Lambert Adjutant. Capt. C. G. Goschen No. 1 Company. Lieut. A. C. Flower ” ” Lieut. A. R. Ellice ” ” Lieut. (temp. Captain) C. R. Britten No. 2 Company. 2nd Lieut. C. G. Keith ” ” 2nd Lieut. H. C. S. Maine ” ” Capt. W. A. L. Stewart No. 3 Company. Lieut. R. Farquhar ” ” Lieut. J. F. J. Joicey-Cecil ” ” 2nd Lieut. M. H. F. Payne-Gallwey ” ” Lieut. D. O. Constable No. 4 Company. 2nd Lieut. J. W. F. Selby-Lowndes ” ” Capt. N. Grellier, M.C., R.A.M.C. Medical Officer.