The other half of B section S.B go up. Thorbergason gets a chunk in the head, only ret’d from Blighty 2 weeks ago after his wound in the Knee Friday Oct 26 Rain + plenty of it. Two more of our boys come down. 10 Brigade go over the top at daybreak. There is a continuous bombardment going on here. The 11th + 13th are getting some casualties, the third retire from their objective but go at it again + hold on Sat Oct 27 Rain again. Sunday Oct 28. Rain. Church to Abeele. I have to stand outside. Go to Abeele in evening with Carruthers. Monday Oct 29. Fall in at 8:30 AM. I am put in charge of No 2 squad. my squad is: E. Michell. H. Joseph + H.P. Stanley. + I. One of our boys got killed to day C. Lovatt. M.M. + seven others wounded including Pete Hurd. We go by trucks to Ypres prison via Vlamatinghe. then by
▸ Where was he?
▸ The war at this time
First assault on Passchendaele
On October 26 at 5:40 AM, the 3rd and 4th Canadian Divisions attack. The advance is slow; mud is waist-deep in places and communication breaks down almost immediately. But by October 27, the first objectives are taken, including Bellevue Spur. The attack is costly. Canadian casualties over the two days are heavy, and the gains measured in hundreds of yards. But the methodical plan is working: each phase takes one line of German defenses and consolidates before the next push.
