Moreover, his guns were so placed that he could concentrate on to the chemical works the artillery, not only of the corps operating against it, but also of the corps on either flank.
The artillery commanders, both field and heavy, did their utmost to check the shelling of the infantry, but they were able to produce little effect.
The Division had been continually in the line since February, had fought for three days in the battle of 9-12th April, and had had only forty-eight hours’ rest before again taking over a battle front. In these circumstances the battle of Roeux and the “Comical” works, as the Jocks called it, gave abundant evidence of the magnificent fighting qualities of the troops.
During this battle the Divisional rear headquarters on the St Nicolas-Bailleul road—in which the “A” and “Q” offices and a rear signal office had been established—received a direct hit from a 9-inch high-velocity gun. The signal office was destroyed, several men and horses of the signal company were killed and wounded, and ten motor bicycles were so damaged as to require replacing.
During the month of April 1917 the casualties sustained by the Division were severe. They were as follows:—
| Killed. | Wounded. | Missing. | |
| Officers | 66 | 140 | 8 |
| Other ranks | 828 | 2972 | 482 |
—a total of 214 officers and 4382 other ranks.
Of individual units the following suffered most severely during the month:—
| 6th Seaforth Highlanders | 16 | officers and | 508 | other ranks |
| 6th Gordon Highlanders | 25 | „ „ | 491 | „ „ |
| 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders | 22 | „ „ | 499 | „ „ |
| 4th Gordon Highlanders | 24 | „ „ | 575 | „ „ |