During the afternoon of 19 September 1917, the officers and men of the 10th Battalion made final preparations for a move to a sector near Nonne Boschen and Polygon Wood where they would participate in the Battle of Menin Road.

At 11.30 p.m., the battalion left the bivouac site at Chateau Sergard and in pouring rain commenced their move to the assembly area. The move started well enough and as they passed through Shrapnel Corner and Halfway House, they were relatively cheerful considering the mud and rain and the fact they were yet again moving up to the front line. As they marched along a track marked '3rd Brigade Route' they were held up for about ¾ of an hour when the carrying Company of the 26th Battalion (2nd Division) in front stopped to pick up wire, picks and other defence stores.

During the journey between Halfway House and Hooge Crater, their progress was further impeded when several gas shells burst nearby and everyone was forced to don gas helmets. After passing Hooge Crater, the track through Chateau Wood became heavy with mud, which of course slowed the pace and made it even more difficult for the men weighed down with stores, ammunition and equipment.

After reaching the assembly area at about 3 a.m., the two rear companies came under heavy enemy shelling which created high numbers of casualties and a good deal of confusion among the men. Captain Gordon Cathcart Campbell MC, (OS) worked with Captains Cornish MC and Henwood to calm the men and when the battalion moved forward to get clear of the shelling everyone was soon back in formation.

At 5.40 am, to the intense relief of the waiting troops, a massive artillery and machine gun barrage rained down upon the German positions and the attack commenced. During the advance, a strong post was encountered in Glencorse Wood from which a German machine-gunner on top of a pillbox was raking the front of the 11th Battalion with machine gun fire.

In an effort to assist the 11th Battalion, the CO 10th Battalion ordered Lieutenant Graham Leaver to take his platoon forward and deal with the situation. Leaver a platoon commander in one of 10th Battalion's two specially trained storm companies, got around behind the pillbox and was almost at the machine gun when a German soldier with a revolver shot him in the head. Lieutenant Colonel Wilder-Neligan DSO, DCM later reported that Leaver's men went mad and 'filled the place with bombs.' An 11th Battalion Corporal Harry Hodge DCM, rushed forward, shot the machine gunner and captured the gun.

The Australian divisions suffered approximately 5,000 casualties in the Battle of Menin Road and the British even four or five times that number. Despite heavy casualties the bite and hold tactic had proven effective.

The Germans with much of their field artillery destroyed had suffered equal numbers of casualties and the realisation the allies were not advancing their infantry beyond the range of their guns surprised the German command.

When the divisions involved were quickly relieved as planned, the 5th Australian Division took over the right, and the 4th (again transferred to I ANZAC) took over the left and the next great blow to be struck against the increasingly demoralised Germans would commence on 26 September.

On 25 September the 50th Battalion were to attack the ridge between Polygon Wood and Zonnebeke and so at 1.a. m., the following morning they left Westhoek and moved up to their jumping off point. Zero was at 5.50 a.m., and the battalion without sustaining a single casualty reached the forming up tape by 4.30 a.m.

At 5.50 a.m., just as the Polygon plateau became visible, the 4th and 5th Australian Divisions advanced at the centre of seven divisions along a 10 kilometre front. A most magnificent barrage roared ahead of the attacking troops like a raging bush-fire and on the low ground to the north, the 4th Division which was in touch with the 3rd British Division at the edge of Zonnebeke secured all objectives. The step-by step strategy had now brought the front line to the foot of the main ridge running through Broodseinde and up towards Passchendaele.