build up ammunition. This time the weight of artillery was doubled and the frontage of attack narrowed. There were significant casualties among the massed field batteries from CB fire in the days preceding the attack, but practice barrages were fired, and numerous trench raids were supported by the guns. Field gun barrages were fired at night to isolate German gun positions and prevent them resupplying. Once again 39th Division's role was to form a defensive flank, this time in the southern sector around Shrewsbury Forest. The attack started at 05.40 on 20 September. The creeping barrage consisted of five belts, the rearmost ('A', nearest the attacking infantry) being fired by half the 18-pdrs, of which one-third of the batteries were 'superimposed' so that they could be redirected to fire at targets of opportunity without leaving a gap in the barrage. The 'B' barrage line ahead was provided by the 4.5s and the rest of the 18-pdrs. It was impressed on the infantry that they were to follow the barrage closely, and despite the muddy conditions the attack was a great success. The gunners were then able to break up German counter-attacks, despite their own exhaustion. The artillery began moving forward on the afternoon of 20 September to prepare for the next phase, the Battle of Polygon Wood on 26 September. The barrages planned were similar to those at the Menin Road, and practice barrages swept across the German positions every day. 39th Division's infantry sidestepped to relieve 41st Division and make a subsidiary attack to capture the 'Tower Hamlets' spur. However, it failed in this attempt, held up by a strongpoint known as 'The Quadrilateral'. The division's infantry were rested after this attack, but 39th DA remained in the line, supporting other formations during the Battles of Broodseinde (4 October) and Poelcappelle (9 October). 39th Divisional Artillery was withdrawn for rest in mid-October, missing the desperate Second Battle of Passchendaele in which the division's infantry played a minor part. While it was out of the line Brig-Gen Gilson, the CRA who had commanded 39th DA since it landed in France, was promoted to be CRA for X Corps. He was replaced by Brig-Gen G.A.S. Cape. 39th Divisional Artillery returned to the front between 4 and 18 November, and again from 22 November, participating in harassing fire against the enemy. Although the gun detachments had some cover from the weather and