2nd Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders

BETHUNE 21/09/1915:  In Billets - Heavy Bombardment on our front by the British.
BETHUNE 22/09/1915: In Billets - Reinforcements (20) arrived from Base.
BETHUNE 23/09/1915: In Billets - During the morning we proceeded to trenches near Cambrin.
CAMBRIN 24/09/1915: In the Trenches - 4 men wounded.

CAMBRIN 25/09/1915:  In the Trenches - Attack on the 25th September 1915 near CAMBRIN. The ground between our trenches and the Germans was flat except for where a series of mines had exploded which made craters with sides 8 to 9 high completely screening the German trenches except for a gap of about 60 yards. One crater known as "Etna" touched our lines, one side of which had been held by us and the other by the Germans for some months. The wire in the gap had been previously cut by our Artillery, and the assault had to pass through this gap to reach the German trenches. This distance across was about 80 yards.

CAMBRIN 25/09/1915: Attack on the 25th September 1915 - The previous night was mild and damp. During the night the wire in front of the parapet (the front of the trench), in front of our jumping off trenches, was removed and bridges laid across the front trench for the attack to get over the parapet which was succumbed with chlorine gas cylinders. Two jumping off trenches had been dug some days previously about 30 to 40 yards in rear of the fire trench, one between bridges (communication trenches) 18 - 19 and one between 17 - 18, each about 80 yards long. 40 short sealing ladders were in position in each trench. Two Companies had 2 Platoons formed up in these jumping off trenches, one Platoon standing at the ladders, the other Platoon standing beside the ladders. The two other Platoons of these Companies were formed up in the support trench known as "High Street". The orders for the advance were for the Platoons at the ladders to lead, followed by the other Platoons waiting at the ladders as soon as the leading Platoons had cleared the final trench, followed by the two Platoons in "High Street" in succession.

The other two Companies were to take these positions as they became available. The two leading Companies were "D" on the left, Captain Harry de Burgh Purves, "B" on the right, Lieutenant H.A. Campbell. "A" Company, 3rd Company Captain J.C. Aitken, "C" Company, Captain Wardlaw Ramsay in Reserve. At 5.45 a.m., the Artillery opened fire and at 5.50 a.m. the gas was turned on for 40 minutes, the last 5 minutes combined with smoke. At 6.30 a.m. the assault started, the morning being very still, the gas hung about and was inclined to come back which hampered the leading Platoons, No.16 Platoon "D" Company Lieutenant Bullough, and No.5 Platoon, "B" Company 2nd Lieutenant Gillespie advanced and succeeded in reaching the German front trench, on the appearance of the assaulting parties the Germans opened a heavy machine gun and shrapnel fire, one more Platoon of "B" Company succeeded in crossing the fire trench but were unable to reach the German trenches and support the leading Platoon owing to the heaviness of the fire. The remaining Platoons were unable to cross the fire trench, "A" Company endeavoured to cross but were also unable to make any headway.

The machine guns came into action under Lieutenant MacPherson to support the advance, but could make no impression on the enemy's fire, the supporting Batteries fired rapid shrapnel but were hampered by the closeness of the two lines. As no advance was possible the Platoon in the front returned to our lines and a further attempt was abandoned. Of the two Platoons that reached the German trench 11 men returned in the evening.

Lieutenant Bullough was seen to fall on the German wire and 2nd Lieutenant Gillespie on the German parapet. Sergeant McLure and about 10 men of No.5 Platoon were seen to jump into the German trench. The remainder of these two Platoons were "wiped out".

CASUALTIES:- Officers - Captain J.C. Aitken KILLED, Lieutenant J.L. Bullough MISSING BELIEVED KILLED, Lieutenant J.M. Miller KILLED, Lieutenant G.E. Smith KILLED, 2nd Lieutenant H. Kerr KILLED, 2nd Lieutenant W.G. Fallowfield KILLED, 2nd Lieutenant J.C. Fraser KILLED, 2nd Lieutenant W.R. Kennedy KILLED, 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Lieutenant J.D. Fordyce WOUNDED and DIED OF WOUNDS, Captain A.B. Wardlaw Ramsay WOUNDED, Lieutenant E. Buchanan WOUNDED, 2nd Lieutenant A. McPherson WOUNDED, 2nd Lieutenant J.F. Fraser WOUNDED, 2nd Lieutenant R. Bogie WOUNDED, 2nd Lieutenant A.D. Gillespie MISSING BELIEVED KILLED. RANK and FILE (Other Ranks):-

LIST OF OFFICERS PRESENT AT THE ATTACK ON THE 25th SEPTEMBER 1915:- Lieutenant-Colonel R.C. Gore, Major H.G. Hyslop D.S.O., Captain H de B. Purves, Captain A.B. Wardlaw Ramsay, Captain J.C. Aitken, Lieutenant J.L. Bullough, Lieutenant H.A. Campbell, Lieutenant E.G. Buchanan, Lieutenant J.M. Miller, Lieutenant and Adjutant A.M. Bankier, Lieutenant R.G. Muir (No.6 Trench Mortar Battery), Lieutenant G.E. Smith, Lieutenant D.J. Grant, 2nd Lieutenant A.D. Gillespie, 2nd Lieutenant H. Kerr, 2nd Lieutenant A. McPherson, 2 Lieutenant W.G. Fallowfield (Sapping Platoon), 2nd Lieutenant R. Bogie, 2nd Lieutenant J.D. Fordyce, 2nd Lieutenant J.C. Fraser, 2nd Lieutenant J.F. Fraser, Lieutenant R. Hill (Royal Army Medical Corps).

CAMBRIN 25/09/1915: In Trenches - Conspicuous deed of Gallantry:- Service No. 7844 Sergeant A. Kiddie showed conspicuous bravery in the attack. When a machine gun team which had been pushed forward to assist the assault had been "knocked out" he went out from the fire trench under heavy machine gun fire , brought the gun back and brought it into action. He again went out and brought in 2 wounded men of the team. He was wounded later in the day.