6th Batallion War Diary 9th April 1917

8th (April 1916)
The Division moved to SANNAI YAT position to assault same at dawn. During the night the Turks were very quiet and hardly fired a shot.
9th
The Battalion was in position by 2 am in four lines of platoons in columns at 50 yards distance with East Lancs on left and Kings Own on right. At 4-30 the movement towards the SANNAI YAT position commenced. When the leading line of the assaulting column was within 100 yds of the enemy’s line, a number of flares were fired by the Turks obliquely from their front causing some confusion in the line of direction. At the same time the enemy opened a heavy M. G. and rifle fire followed almost at once by shell fire. The rapidity with which the guns opened on us showed how well acquainted with our plan of attack. An intense artillery bombardment was timed to take place simultaneously with the assault but this was about 10 minutes late in opening. The confusion caused by the converging flanks was partly the cause of the failure. Part of the attack fell back and others dug in, but returned to the original line the same night at dusk by order. The Brigade was relieved at midnight.