On the 1st July, at the Brigade Horse Show, the Battalion did very well, carrying off the Championship Cup and six first prizes, which in itself was sufficient reward to the Officer Commanding Transport (Lieutenant A. Bardsley, M.C.) and all Other Ranks. It might here be mentioned that, under the supervision of Lieutenant A. Bardsley, the Battalion Transport did very well in the Division Show and later on obtained first prize at the Corps Transport Show.
On the 3rd we moved up in position to the line and relieved the 1/7th King’s Liverpool Regiment in support in the GIVENCHY sector, one man being killed and four wounded, and two more wounded the following day.
On the evening of the 7th we relieved the 2/5th Lancashire Fusiliers on the left sector—a very difficult relief, Companies having to move up their sectors through a heavy bombardment of 4.2’s, 5.9’s, whizzbangs, and minenwerfers. This was the enemy’s retaliation for our bombardment in connection with a raid carried out on our flank by the 1st Cameronians. One Other Rank was killed and six wounded. The next few days were spent in the usual routine and working and wiring parties, and were fairly quiet, our casualties for the tour being:—Seven Other Ranks killed and eight wounded.
On the 16th we were relieved by the 1/6th King’s Liverpool Regiment, and moved back to LE PREOL, where we stood-to for the night, moving back to VAUDRICOURT the following morning.
On the 20th a dance for Officers and men took place in the Recreation Hut.
On the 22nd we relieved the 1/5th King’s Liverpool Regiment in the right GIVENCHY sector.
No prisoners having been captured by the Corps for about a fortnight, the Divisional Commander was very anxious that prisoners should be obtained for the purpose of identification, and with this end in view, on the 27th, two reconnaissances by Second Lieutenant Archibald on the old British Line opposite ORCHARD ROAD during the morning, and by Second Lieutenant Dawson opposite FINCHLEY ROAD SAP in the afternoon, found both enemy posts unoccupied. It was therefore decided that these two Officers should take part in a silent daylight raid, and on the following day both Officers took over patrols. Second Lieutenant Dawson’s patrol met with no success, but Second Lieutenant Archibald’s patrol succeeded in capturing three of the enemy and one machine gun and returned to our trenches with no casualties and without a single shot having been fired by either side.
Congratulatory telegrams were received by the Officer Commanding and Second Lieutenant Archibald was awarded for his gallantry the Military Cross and the Non-Commissioned Officer who accompanied him was awarded the Military Medal.
On the 29th, at his own request, Second Lieutenant Dawson again tried to effect an entry into the enemy’s line, and was successful in finding three men and a strong working party, which the patrol promptly bombed. Our casualties were nil, and from documents subsequently captured from the enemy it would appear that these raids had a depressing effect on the enemy’s morale.