were to assist the 138th and 139th Infantry Brigades, one company of tanks to each Brigade, in the advance from the Red line.
••••
Forming-up was successfully carried out on the night before the attack, the 137th Infantry Brigade lining up on the jumping-off tape on a three-battalion front; while the 138th and 139th Infantry Brigades formed up some distance in rear on a one-battalion front, with orders that their leading battalions should occupy our old front line as soon as the attacking Brigade had left. These leading battalions were instructed to detail one company each to follow the assaulting troops closely and assist in mopping up the area west of the Canal. At the same time the battalion commanders were instructed to hold themselves in readiness to reinforce the 137th Infantry Brigade should this Brigade, having crossed the Canal, be in danger of being outfought in the trench system beyond it. The remainder of the supporting Brigades were instructed not to move forward until orders were received from Divisional Headquarters.
Zero hour was fixed for 5.50 a.m. on September 29th.
Even without an intimate knowledge of the ground a study of the trench-map of the Canal defences will show the magnitude of the task which confronted the attacking Brigade. Well might the enemy be of the opinion that their positions were impregnable. As zero hour approached there was no thought of rest for the Staff who had planned the attack, and who realized how much might hang on the result of the next few hours. If the attack proceeded according to schedule, there was no end to the possibilities opened up. Indeed, the end of the war would be brought very appreciably nearer. A suc-
