The enemy attacked after a fierce bombardment, and Kemmel Hill was taken.
On the 29th the enemy opened a heavy gas and H.E. barrage and attacked Mont Rouge in force. They were driven away, but returned again and again, always being beaten off.
At last in the first days of May the Battalion was relieved, and was sent back to the training and rest area at Blangy, the Divisional General having complimented the gun crews upon their conduct in the field.
The story of the 4th Battalion is very like that of the 5th. All through the last days of March there was the same heartbreaking destruction of machines that had run out of petrol or grease, or were suffering from some slight defect which there was no time to rectify. Again kits and orderly-room material had to be burnt, and again the Lewis guns were salved. The usual Lewis gun detachments were formed, but this time did not have quite so much fighting, their chief battle being on March 26, on the Bray-Albert road, where they did exceedingly well.
The 2nd Battalion was near Maricourt when the crash came, and twenty-five of their Tanks went into action on the afternoon of March 22.
[56]“The Tanks had to come into view when they crossed the Bapaume-Cambrai road, and as soon as the enemy spotted them coming into action, very heavy machine-gun fire was brought to bear upon them, to be followed in a few minutes by heavy direct artillery fire. Several Tanks were knocked out by shells almost as soon as they arrived amongst the enemy infantry, who were found to be very numerous, as if massing for a further advance.
“The appearance of the Tanks seems to have been a complete surprise to the enemy infantry, who became disorganised and retired some distance in confusion.
“The Tanks carried out the attack without any infantry, and practically no artillery, co-operation.
“The casualties both in Tanks and personnel were heavy, but the attack achieved its object, in that it upset the plans of the enemy and delayed any further attack on their part for nearly twenty-four hours. It was known at the time by the Staff that the enemy was massing for an attack at once, and the appearance of the Tanks rendered this impossible.
“The first Tanks came out of action about 7.30 p.m.”