On the day after relief Captain Oliphant, of the United States Army, and two N.C.Os. were attached to the battalion for two days' instruction.
That night Colonel Fletcher, who had long been overworking, broke down and came to the rear for a rest, and Major C. W. Wilson took over command in the line. Colonel Fletcher was accommodated at Divisional Headquarters at Couin. Captain Broad and 2nd-Lieutenant Waln also retired to hospital, sick, the same day.
The next night (May 8th, 1918) a very determined effort was made by Sergeant Corkill and three other scouts (Hill, Whelan, and Bradley) to obtain identification. Leaving our line from our left post in Oak Trench, they made their way across to a supposed enemy post at the junction of the road and the German front-line trench; this they rushed, killing two of its occupants. Before they had time to do anything more, they were attacked by another post from the left flank. Seizing the machine gun in the post, they made off; but owing to two of the party being immediately wounded, and the check to their movements caused by the weight of the gun, they had to abandon it, and made the best of their way back to our line. For this very gallant little enterprise Corkill received the Military Medal.
The question of the defence of the sector, which had been exercising Colonel Fletcher's mind, and which, owing to his incessant reconnaissances, had given the finishing touch to his weariness, was now settled; and on the night of May 9th-10th the 6th Battalion of the Bedfordshires, who belonged to the Division on our left, took over two left posts of our "D" Company in Oak and Waac Trench, and established, in addition, a joint post. This secured our left far more adequately than before, and also enabled "D" Company to relieve two posts of "C" Company and thus strengthen the line generally.
This scheme was further perfected on May 11th by the 2/7th K.L.R. taking over a Lewis gun post of "C" Company, which was more properly in their area; and on May 12th the defence line was based on Herring Trench instead of Bass Trench, which involved some shifting of posts and the taking over from the 9th K.L.R. of a small portion of their line.
On the night of May 12th-13th the enemy put down a gas shell barrage for two and a half hours on Fonquevillers, causing very heavy casualties to the Division on our left. Most unfortunately, our rations were coming through the village when the barrage opened, and we were lucky to escape with only seven men wounded and gassed. The transport stood the proceeding with the greatest fortitude, and after it was over delivered the rations as if nothing had happened.
That night the Adjutant was evacuated to hospital, sick, and Captain F. C. Bowring shortly after took over the duties.
The 1/5th Loyal North Lancashire Regiment relieved us on May 13th, relief being complete at 1.30 a.m., and the battalion moved out to the Chateau de la Haie switch, taking over the trenches occupied by the 2/5th King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment.
The time, on the whole, had been moderately quiet, though parts of the line, more especially High Street, had dropped in for a good deal of fairly heavy shelling. The trenches had been poor and wet, and, owing to the extent of the front, only limited improvement had been possible. By 5.30 a.m. the battalion had settled down in Chateau de la Haie. The same afternoon officers were examining the trenches on the Sailly au Bois—Fonquevillers road, and in the evening two and a half companies were up in Beer and Rum Trenches, working on the defences. "B" Company, on the way back, were unluckily shelled, and four men were wounded.