that was due to begin next day. It was 39th Division's first attack, carried out by 116th Brigade comprising the three 'Southdowns' battalions of the Royal Sussex Regiment ('Lowther's Lambs'). The wirecutting was reported as very effective, and 39th DA began the final bombardment just before 03.00, the infantry going 'over the top' shortly afterwards. The guns then lengthened their range and put down an intense barrage. The divisional artillery fired over 20,000 rounds during the bombardment, but although the front line trench was reported to be full of German casualties when the British infantry entered, the second line was strongly held and the Southdowns were driven out of their gains with heavy casualties by the end of the day. During June 39 DA HQ moved to Béthune and some of the batteries were moved around for special shoots, but in early August they were pulled out for rest before being sent south to join the Somme Offensive. A heavy TMB (V/39) equipped with 9.45-inch mortars was formed on 27 August, the personnel coming from Third Army School of Mortars. 39th Division went into the line between Beaumont-Hamel and the River Ancre on 28 August. On 3 September it made an attack to assist a larger attack on the other side of the river: 39th DA fired from 05.00 to 12.00, effectively cutting the wire and attracting considerable enemy counter-battery (CB) fire, though suffering few casualties. The division's infantry took the German front trench but most were unable to push on, being held up by machine gun fire from St Pierre Divion on the flank, and were withdrawn by the end of the day. From 23 September 39th DA cooperated in the attack on Thiepval Ridge, firing from its flanking position on the Ancre against the river crossings and into the German rear. The assault on 26 September was partially successful, but the Germans retained possession of the Schwaben Redoubt. A follow-up attack on 28 September, again supported by 39th DA, captured part of this position, and attack and counter-attack fought over the ground until 30 September, the Germans suffering serious casualties from the British artillery. Meanwhile, the TMBs had been engaging targets in their immediate front, suffering their own casualties from return fire. At the beginning of October the batteries were repositioned south of the river for the Battle of the Ancre Heights. The TMBs were strongly reinforced for