PROVISIONAL ORDERS FOR THE ATTACK
8th ROYAL INNISKILLING FUSILIERS
14th August 1917

1. GENERAL PLAN.
The 16th Division, in conjunction with Divisions on either flank, will attack the enemy's positions on a date to be notified later.
The attack will be made in two bounds, each bound is shown by coloured lines on Map "A".
First Bound GREEN LINE
Second Bound DOTTED RED LINE.

2. OBJECTIVES OF BRIGADES.
The 48th. Inf. Bde. (plus one Battn.) on the right and the 49th. Infantry Brigade (plus one Battn.) on the left will attack up to and including the RED DOTTED LINE. The 47th. Inf.Bde. less three battns. and M.G. Coy. will be in Divnl. Reserve. The left battn. of the 48th. Inf.Bde. will be the 2nd. R. Dublin Fus. The Right Battn. of the 108th. Inf.Bde will be the 9th. R. Irish Fus.

3. BOUNDARIES.
The boundaries between the 49th. Inf.Bde. and the Bdes. on either flank are as follows:-
Boundary with 48th. Inf.Bde.
D.25.a.75.05 - where DOTTED RED LINE crosses the ZONNEBEKE stream.
Boundary with 108th.Inf.Bde.
D.19.c.7.8.-D.19.b.70.50. - D.14.d.20.40.
These boundaries are shewn in BLUE on Map "A".

4. TASKS OF BATTALIONS.
The attack on the GREEN and DOTTED RED LINES will be made by the 7th.R.Innis.Fus. on the Left and the 8th.R.Innis.Fus. on the Right. The dividing line between these two Battalions will be - D.25.a.80.90.-D.20.b.80.99.
This boundary is shewn in BLACK on Map "A".
The GREEN LINE is to be captured at ZERO PLUS..................
There will be a pause of 20 minutes on the GREEN LINE.
The RED DOTTED LINE is to be captured at ZERO PLUS...........
As soon as the RED DOTTED LINE has been captured a line of posts will be pushed out as far as the barrage permits.

5. DISPOSITIONS.
"C" Coy. 7/8th.R.Irish Fus.( to be known for these operations a "E" Coy.) are attached and will assist in ATTACK and mop up to, and including ZEVENKOTE.
"C" Coy. and "A" Coy. will supply leading waves,"C" COY. on RIGHT, "A" Coy. on the LEFT, "D" Coy. and "B" Coy. will be in rear, "D" Coy. on Right, "B" Coy. on the LEFT.
Dividing lines between Coys. is shewn on Map "A".
The battalion will attack in five waves of two lines each.
Distance between LINES 20 yards.
" " WAVES 100 yards
"E" Coy. will form the second WAVE of the ATTACK and are alloted tasks as follows.
RIGHT PLATOON(No.10 2/Lt.YOUNG) will assist in capture of BORRY FARM Mop up and consolidate that position.
RIGHT CENTRE PLATOON(No.9 2/Lt.COOMBES) will assist in capture of COFFEE FARM and having mopped up will proceed to ZEVENKOTE.
These two platoons will follow first WAVE of "C" Co.
Nos. 11 and 12 Platoons(2/Lt DICKSON) will follow 1st WAVE of "A" Coy. will proceed direct to ZEVENKOTE.
The three Platoons of "E" Coy. at ZEVENKOTE having completed mopping up will choose and consolidate a suitable position about 250 yards in rear of GERMAN TRENCHES at ZEVENKOTE.
One Coy. 7/8th.R.Irsih Regt. will be in Brigade Reserve. At ZERO Hour 3 Coys. of the 2nd. R. Irsih Regt. will advance from their assembly trenches and occupy the trenches vacated by the Assaulting Battalions, from D.25.a.80.05 to D.19.c.80.70. with a post at BECK HOUSE. 1 Coy will remain in the assembly position on BLUE LINE.
The 6th R. Irish Regt. will be in Brigade Reserve in VLAMERTINGHE Area, and must be prepared to relieve the Assaulting Battalions on the RED DOTTED LINE if required.

6. MOPPING UP.
The 7th.& 8th. R.Innis.Fus. are responsible for Mopping up all ground in their areas in front of DELVA FARM AND ZEVENKOTE. The 7/8th. R. Irish Fus. are responsible of Mopping Up in rear of DELVA FARM and ZEVENKOTE.(inclusive).

7. CONSOLIDATION.
The RED DOTTED LINE, and all Supporting Points held by the 7/8th R. Irish Fus. will be consolidated as rapidly as possible after capture. after capture. "A" & "C" Coys. will consolidate FRONT LINE, pushing forward posts as ordered in para.4.

"B" &"D" Coys. will consolidate position in depth approximately along line of GERMAN TRENCHES at ZEVENKOTE.

8.ACTION OF MACHINE GUNS.
The Machine Guns will be under the direction of Divisional Machine Gun Officer.
12 Guns of the 49th M>G> Coy. will assist in the Machine Gun Barrage which will be 200 yards in advance of Arty. Creeping Barrage and will life in conformity with that barrage.
2 Guns will move in rear of the attacking Infantry to a position in vincinity of DELVA FARM and 2 Guns will move to a position near HILL 37(D.20.a)

9. ACTION OF STOKES MORTARS.
Two Stokes Mortars will be attached to each assaulting battalion. They will move in rear of the last wave, and will assist the Infantry to overcome opposition as required.

10. ACTION OF ARTILLERY.
The Divisional Artillery will form a Creeping Barrage covering the Advance of the Infantry. At Zero Hour the barrage will be put down, 300 yards in advance of our present front line; BECK HOUSE will be specially dealt with. The first lift will take place at Zero plus 5 minutes, and it will then proceed forward at the rate of 100 yards in 5 minutes. During the 20 minute pause on the GREEN LINE a protective barrage will be maintained 200 yards in advance of the Infantry.
After capture of the DOTTED RED LINE a standing barrage will be established 300 yards in advance of it for a period of 1 hour, after whixh it will cease unless recalled by the "S.O.S." Signal.

11. ACTION OF TANKS.
One Section of tanks from "C" Battn., TANK CORPS, has been alloted to the 16th Division. These Tanks will not be available unless the weather conditions improve. In any case they are only likely to arrive behind the Infantry in time to act as "Moppers Up", in cases where isolated positions continue to hold out.

12. COMMUNICATIONS.
Brigade Headquarters will remain at MILL COT.
The Bde. Forward Station will advance behind the last wave of the leading Assaulting Battalion, and will be established in the vicinity of IBERIAN.
Battn. Forward Posts will be established as follows:-
7th. R. INNIS.FUS. ________DELVA FARM
8TH. R.INNIS.FUS ________COFFEE FARM.(D.20.c.2.2).
7/8TH.R. IRISH FUS._______IBERIAN.
Battn.H.Qrts. will not move forward to these positions until communication has been established with them.
The attached Chart shows the various means of Communication except pigeons and runners.
As many pairs of pigeons as available will be issued to Bde. Forward Station and Battaions. The latter will send half their issue with Battn.Forward Posts.
Runner Relay Posts will be established ast:-
(a) IBERIAN
(b) SQUARE FARM
(c) BAVARIA HOUSE
(d) BRIGADE HQRS>
Runners should not be used unless all other methods of communication fail.
The Bde.Forward Station of 48th.Inf.Bde. will be at .............
The Bde.Visual Station and the O>P> will be at C.29.d.8.7

13. CONTACT AEROPLANES.
One Contact Aeroplane (Type......) and one Protective Aeroplane will be in the Air over the 16th. and 36th.Division Areas from Zero Hour onwards.
Flares will be lit and WATSON FANS will be shown by the leading troops at the following hours.




The leading troops will be prepared to light flares and show Watson fans at other times if asked for by the aeroplane.

14. SYNCHRONISATION.
All units will send a watch to Bde.H.Q. daily at 6 p.m.

15. S.O.S. SIGNAL.
The S.O.S. will be GREEN SIGNAL Cartridges.

16.PRISONERS.
All prisoners will be sent to BECK HOUSE, where they will be collected by the 2nd. R. Irish Regt.,and sent down in batches to Bde. Prisoners' Cage at Brigade Headquarters.

17. MEDICAL ARRANGEMENTS.
Regtl.AID POSTS will be established at LOW FARM.

18. ZERO HOUR.
Zero Hour will be notified later.

19. ACKNOWLEDGE.
Issued through Signals at