Les Carlyon in his story of the 1st AIF in France The Great War (Pan Macmillan Australia, Sydney 2006, ISBN-13: 978 1 4050 3761 7) cites a story that Haig's Chief of Staff, Launcelot Kiggell, drove forward after the battle to survey the front.
As his car rocked forward through the mud he allegedly broke down and wept, saying "Good God, did we really send men to fight in that?"
Apparently he was told words to the effect 'that it was far worse further up".
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