THE YPRES TIMES
47
At 7 a.m. on the 6th the enemy laid down a terrific bombardment which
lasted until the moment of their attack, seven hours later.
At 2 p.m. the enemy blew four mines. The explosion was horrible and six
platoons of the 28th Battalion were killed to the last man. So terrific was the
gun-fire that the companies in the support line nearby did not know the mines had
been blown until a few survivors crept into their lines. Soon after the mines
were blown the enemy came forward in close formation, carrying packs as if they
expected no resistance. As far as the front line was concerned they were right.
They occupied the trenches in Hooge and assaulted the 6th British Brigade opposite
[Australian Official Photograph. Copyright reserved.
SANCTUARY WOOD SHOWING MOUNT SORREL IN THE BACKGROUND.
Bellewaarde Farm, but were repulsed by the resolute British infantry which had not
been bombarded to any great extent.
By 3.30 p.m. the attack on the support line had been repulsed, but it persisted
on the right hand side of the Menin Road all the afternoon. At four o'clock
he decided to attack the second line of support trenches. The method of his
approach was obvious; he was coming through the gap and down by Zouave
Wood. This was an old battle-ground where the harrow of war had passed up
and down and across, and where every foot of the ground is covered with relics
of the slain. It was here, in October, 1914, several hundred Prussian Guards
broke clean through the British front line and were caught in reverse by the