a special wire-cutting operation in front of Beaumont-Hamel on 9–10 October, firing over 3000 rounds; 24 out of 48 mortars were put out of action by retaliatory fire, but casualties to the men were not heavy. The Capture of Schwaben Redoubt was completed by 39th Division on 14 October. This was a difficult operation for the artillery, most of the targets being invisible from the OPs and the weather preventing much air observation. Two enemy counter-attacks next day and another on 21 October were broken up by barrages from 39th DA in response to the infantry's SOS signals. The complete Capture of Stuff Redoubt was achieved in half an hour on 21 October: the wire had been systematically cut by a methodical bombardment, and 39th Division advanced behind an 'excellent' Creeping barrage. Observation was better here, and enemy troops massing for counter-attack were heavily shelled. Further attacks on the Somme front were delayed by bad weather and the difficulty in bringing up ammunition – pack horses had to be used in place of waggons – but the final Battle of the Ancre was launched on 13 November. Artillery support was now massed and sophisticated creeping barrages employed. 39th Division carried out a carefully prepared attack on St Pierre Divion at 06.15. Fog in the river valley caused problems to the attackers, but also meant that some of the defenders were caught by surprise. Cut off by the barrage, they were in no condition to offer much resistance, and the village was reported secured at 08.32. Further reorganisation 39th Divisional Artillery was withdrawn on the night of 19 November and marched north to the Ypres Salient. The horses were so exhausted that they could not pull the ammunition waggons, which had to be unloaded. After two days' march the tired men and horses required two days' rest, and it was not until 28 November that they reached the back areas behind Ypres for rest and refitting. The BEF's field artillery was now being reorganised into six-gun batteries: in each of 39th DA's brigades C Bty was broken up between A and B Bty, then CLXXXIV Bde was broken up on 30 November, its batteries joining the other brigades (A Bty as C/CLXXIV, B Bty as C/CLXXXVI and D (H) Bty as C (H)/CLXXIX). The surplus officers and men joined the DAC. On 9 December CLXXIX Bde relieved a Belgian army unit