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24th September 1918 – The Battalion attacked on the left of the 3rd Inf Bde. Front. Battalion’s Right flank on BUGEAD TRENCH exclusive, and Left along Northern edge of MARONIERS WOOD; the final objective being CORNOVILLERS WOOD and the laddered trench between CORNOVILLERS WOOD and a trench junction at M.28.b.2.6. The Battalion attack in three lines as disposed on the 23rd instant.
At 5 a.m. the three leading Companies advanced under a creeping barrage. The Right Front Company went straight through under the barrage to its objective – the two platoons "mopping up2 cleared up the south side of FRESNOY and the Strong Point in the Cemetery and its immediate neighbourhood. . . .
On the left the advance made little headway, as it was at once held up by several belts of uncut wire and numerous cleverly concealed machine guns. An attempt to charge the Front Line Enemy trench resulted in the enemy coming out with bombs; a hand to hand fight took place in which severe casualties were inflicted and 20 of the enemy captured. The enemy at once turned his machine guns on captors and captives alike, killing and wounding several of both sides. . . .
During the afternoon the Battalion was ordered to prepare an advance through GRICOURT under a creeping barrage and capture and hold ALSACE and BEAUVRAINS trenches. . . . At 7.45 pm. the enemy launched a counter attack supported by light trench mortars; this attack, specially pressed through the THREE SAVAGES – was smashed by rifle and Lewis gun fire, without it being necessary to call for artillery support. . .
Meanwhile snipers from the enemy strong point in FRESNOY had caused nearly 90 per cent of the casualties and maintained this percentage throughout the day. . .
The War Diary entry for this day is very long and impossible to quote in full here, but this should give you some idea of the objectives and the kind of fighting the Battalion was involved in this day. Wesley Tossell was 27 years old when he died and has no known grave, being commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial.
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