The following are contemporary accounts relating to the attack on Serre made by the Pals battalions of 94th Brigade on the morning of 1st July 1916.

Lt. Frank Bailey (11th Bn., East Lancs. Regt.). Report of wire examining patrol on night of 29th/30th June 1916 (PRO CAB45/191).

I went out at 10.35pm leaving our lines at post No. 6. We walked through our wire and lay in No Man's Land for 5 mins. until our artillery lifted. We then proceeded to crawl out towards the enemy's wire, but were found by the enemy's flares about half-way. We were not fired on by machine guns, but about 3 rifles from slightly to our right kept up fire for about 15 minutes. We then proceeded toward the wire, and examined same for about 40 yards north, but could only find one thickness of concertina wire into which we put the Bangalore torpedo and fired same. We immediately retired as it was now about 11.30 and the artillery were trying to come back. we got back into No. 6 post at 11.45.

Lt. Cecil Herbert Woodhouse (12th Bn., York & Lancaster Regt.). Report of wire examining patrol on night of 29th/30th June 1916 (PRO CAB45/191).

I went out with a patrol tonight from No 27 Bay (opp. Luke Copse) at 10.35p.m. The enemy wire is now considerably damaged opposite this place, but a fair amount of loose wire remains. I do not consider that it would be a serious obstacle to infantry. Another patrol from my party went out opposite Bay 34, and report a similar state of affairs. Two Bangalore torpedoes were placed in position and fired at 11.10, but the one opposite 27 Bay failed to explode. Some flares were sent up from the 2nd German line, but none from the 1st. No other signs of the enemy could be seen or heard.

Extracts from a letter written by Pte. Jack Hindle (11th Bn., East Lancs. Regt.) (published in the Accrington Observer & Times of 22nd July 1916).

On Friday, the last day of June, we were told that we were going in the trenches that night to start the attack in the morning. We did not worry, as we expected it, and you may judge how cheerful we were when I tell you that as we were going to the trenches that night there were a lot of the R.F.A. on the wayside and one of our chaps would say to one of them, "What do you want bringing back - a German helmet or an officer's wrist watch?" and this was not the only joke, as all were promising to have a drink with each other at a village we had to take. Well, at last we got to the trenches, through which we had to walk three miles to get to our position, and it was no joke, as the trenches were deep in mud and water, and by the time we got to our post (about 11p.m.) we were wet through.
At 6.30 a terrific bombardment started, and Fritz gave us a little in return, sending all kinds of shells, including whiz-bangs, aerial torpedoes, canister shells, and rifle grenades. At 7.20 our trench mortars started, and we went over the top. I myself felt more at ease when we got over than I did in the trench, simply because I had a chance of firing back. At 7.30 the bombardment lifted to the German second line, and we looked for someone to lead us, but all the officers and the N.C.O.'s seemed to have been put out of action, and while we were waiting (which was only a matter of seconds) the Germans came out.

Extract from a letter written by Pte. Will Clarke (11th Bn., East Lancs. Regt.) to his sister (published in the Accrington Observer & Times of 15th July 1916).

I ventured to look around me as with a whizz, ping, pang the bullets flew around me. "God spare my soul" I cried, and saw to my surprise living beings. How had they escaped being blown to pieces? Heaven only knows. But there they were throwing bombs at us. Full length on the ground I flung myself, when "biff!" a piece of spent shrapnel hit me behind the ear. I slipped into a huge shell-hole twenty-five yards from the Huns' first trench, and there wiped away the blood, pulling the small offender out. Creeping forward I again spotted a few Germans. Taking aim, I fired one shot. Then "thud!" "Oh, God!" I cried, "my poor head is blown in two", so great was the shock.
Blinded almost with blood from my wound, I commenced to roll back to our own lines, but my equipment prevented me. In spite of the machine guns that were still playing on us (and, by the way, they killed many of our wounded), I knelt up, and God only knows how I threw off my equipment, but I did it, and crawling, pulling, stumbling over barbed wire, etc., I reached our own lines.

Extract from a letter written by Pte. Jack Haining (11th Bn., East Lancs. Regt.) to his parents (published in the Accrington Observer & Times of 11th July 1916).

We were in the worst of the fight and have lost a terrible lot of men. I had a miraculous escape, having to pass 14 hours in a shell hole with three comrades, one of them being badly wounded. While we were there shells were dropping all around us and rifles and machine-guns were blazing away as if they were alive. How many came back from the charge I don't know. Neither do I know how I got back. Poor Captain Tough was killed. I heard he was twice wounded but still kept going till he was killed. I think it was very courageous of him.

Extract from a letter written by Pte. Albert Naylor (11th Bn., East Lancs. Regt.) to a friend in the Accrington Tramways Department (published in the Accrington Observer & Times of 15th July 1916).

We made the attack at 7.30 on the morning of July 1st, my platoon being in the third wave, or line of men, after the first and second wave had gone. We moved on and we caught up to them in good time - what there was left of them. Well, we kept moving on until we got to the first German line. We started throwing bombs, but I was not so long before I was hit in the leg with a piece of German bomb, so I got out of the trench and got in a shell-hole just over the top of the trench. I stopped there all day, but towards night a shell burst behind me and put a couple of pieces in my left arm, and a piece right through my shrapnel helmet into my head. Well, I bandaged myself up as best I could, and as soon as it went dark I made towards our line, in my way, but instead of landing there I got to another line of German trenches. I only found it out by them throwing a bomb which dropped beside my head, and it didn't half make blood fly - it poured out of my nose, ears and mouth - but there was very little shrapnel which I got about the face and into my right arm. After this I managed to get into our own lines, and I can tell you it was a great relief, as I was three days and a half without food, as I had to drop all my equipment as soon as I was hit.