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The din of the bombardment was perhaps the most fearsome man-made noise yet known on earth. In London, at night, the distant thunder of the guns could be heard. Close at hand, in Thiepval Wood and Hamel, it seemed as though all thought must be drowned out in the hypnotic sound of shellfire. The big shells could be seen bursting and sending huge columns of earth into the air. THe men could actually see the shells flying through the air : hot bits of steel, red pokers. The observation Corps who looked down from Mesnil, swore that, surely, nothing could live in the German trenches

Some men’s ears would begin to bleed under the constant pressure of nearby explosions. To make matters worse, the weather began to deteriorate again :
‘We moved up to the Thiepval Wood and into the slit trenches and for the next four of five days it rained. We were always wet, the food cold, our feet swelled up, our fingers stiffened. Our guns thundered away day and night.........we watched the gunners - every time they fired a shot the wheels of the gun moved, splashing mud all over them. They were in a worse state than we were. You could see where the rain had washed bits and pieces of mud off their faces and hands and they were all streaked like zebras’.

About to fire an 8-inch howitzer. Note the Camouflage Netting screen over the gun and its emplacement.

Sunday 25 June was the second day of the bombardment, and against the background of the infernal din, church services were held.
On the same day Lt Colonel Pelly of the East Belfast Volunteers, gave his final operational orders to his officers. He could not yet tell them when zero hour would be, but it was clear that half an hour before zero, the Brigade would be starting from Aveluy Wood, moving towards the front trenches in Thiepval Wood, the West Belfast Battalion leading the way with the South Belfast men just behind. When the Brigade moved out over no-mans-land towards its distant goal, the East Belfast Battalion would follow 100 yards behind the other two. The two rear platoons of each company would be carrying iron ‘screw’ stakes and barbed wire to consolidate their gains against counter attack. All in all the men were going to be hugely loaded down, as the instructions about equipment and ammunition indicated :
• Packs and great coats will not be carried but haversacks will be worn at the back
• A waterproof sheet and cardigan inside will be rolled on the back of the belt. The roll to be the length of the bottom of the pack
• Everyman of the 2nd and 3rd platoons will carry a pick or a shovel
• In the haversack will be carried shaving and washing kit, 1 pair socks, iron rations and rations for Z’ day
• Every man will carry two bombs, one in each side pocket
• Every man will carry two sandbags tucked into his belt
• Wire cutters will be carried by the leading platoon of each company
• Each man with a wire cutter will have tape tied round his left shoulder strap
• 170 rounds S.A.A. per man will be carried
• 5 flags for indicating the position of the most advanced infantry will be carried by each company
The operational instructions ended with a grim reminder : ‘All ranks are to be warned that if taken prisoner they are only bound to give their name and rank and should refuse to answer any questions.
If the average Infantry man was to be weighed down, the scout or runner was not. The ‘runner’ had to carry back news of the fighting back to his own lines. A distinguishing red band was sewn on each of his great coat sleeves and he received his scout shorts; he would be trimmed down for speed and agility.

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