A week before the Battle of Passchendaele commenced

Immediately preceding 22 July, 1917, the New Zealand Divisional Artillery was engaged in a series of fire missions on the Western Front during the period of intense activity that took place between the commencement of the Battle of Messines (6 June) and the beginning of the Battle of Passchendaele (31 July).  Gun batteries were not normally exposed to direct small arms fire, although this was not impossible. However, numerous artillery personnel were also required in the infantry lines in a forward observing capacity and in the never ending task of repairing the telephone wires connecting the forward observers with their batteries. Many Gunner casualties were suffered as a direct result, either from shelling or because of enemy snipers.