This rest was thoroughly enjoyed by the whole Battalion, being the first real rest since the battle of GIVENCHY. The billets were good, and the canteen well stocked.
On the 8th, we moved back to the line, Major Duggan, M.C., being in command, and relieved the 1/7th King’s Liverpool Regiment in the right sector.
Wiring and working under difficult conditions continued until the 12th, three men being killed and eight wounded, two missing, and seven sick during the tour. We were relieved on the night of the 12th by the 2/5th Lancashire Fusiliers, and moved back to support.
On the 14th, A Company carried out an operation against the enemy’s front line post in WILLOW DRAIN, penetrating his line at one point and establishing a block which they held till about 10 30 p.m., being then obliged to withdraw by strong counter-attack. The front and support lines were heavily bombarded from 6 15 p.m. till about 11 p.m., harassing fire being kept up until 2 a.m.
The raiding party sustained heavy casualties. Going across No Man’s Land—a mass of shell holes—Second Lieutenant Ibbotson was wounded and then killed by a shell; Second Lieutenant Milne was killed by a bomb while passing through the enemy wire; and Second Lieutenant Cooper was wounded by a bullet in the throat, causing the loss of his voice, but gallantly went on writing his orders in his pocket book and carrying on until killed by a second bullet[J]. There is no record of the other casualties, but they numbered about 50.
This raid was supported by a creeping barrage, the ground in the neighbourhood being blanketed throughout by artillery and Stokes’ mortars.
On the 17th we relieved the 1/4th King’s Own in the left GIVENCHY sector, A Company at PLANTAIN SOUTH, B Company left front Company, C Company right front Company, D Company holding the KEEPS. Four Other Ranks were killed and Second Lieutenant Chapman and 19 Other Ranks wounded during the tour, which came to an end on the 20th, when the 1/6th King’s Liverpool Regiment relieved us at 2 10 a.m.
The Battalion then moved back to rest billets.
The period now under review was known as the “bustle” period, as that was the code word on receipt of which all kinds of moves were to take place which cannot here be detailed.
In our rest billets at VAUDRICOURT we went through the usual training and bathing routine until the 26th, when we relieved the 1/7th King’s Liverpool Regiment in the GIVENCHY left sector. During the rest Second Lieutenant Hampson was killed and four men wounded.