On March 26 two Companies of the 3rd Battalion were moved to Mailly-Maillet Wood.
As soon as the machines had arrived the Company Commanders went out to reconnoitre the position near the village (Mailly-Maillet).
The result of their investigations is typical of the whole retreat:
[58]“The position on the front between Beaumont-Hamel and Hébuterne proved to be very obscure, a gap in our line appearing to exist between these two places. The only troops of ours to be found consisted of two small posts of about one platoon each on the outskirts of Colincamps, the ground to the front and between them being occupied by enemy patrols and machine-gunners.”
About noon the Whippets arrived at the village. The situation was explained to the Section Commanders, and half the Tanks proceeded down the main street while the rest guarded the two flanks.
A small body of our infantry which was holding the village had been on the point of falling back before the rapidly advancing enemy when the Tanks arrived.
The Tanks had gone forward almost beyond the village, when suddenly, round the edge of the wood, they met 300 of the enemy advancing in close formation.
The Germans were too much surprised to attempt to resist, and fled in disorder.
A number of them were shot down by the Whippet’s machine-guns, and many surrendered to the infantry who had by now arrived.
The remnant scattered, and were pursued by the Tanks right on to the outskirts of Auchonvillers.