2nd Batt.
The 2nd Battalion
In the fighting on November 4 the following officers took part:
| Lieut.-Colonel C. F. A. Walker, M.C. | Commanding Officer. |
| Capt. R. G. Briscoe, M.C. | Adjutant. |
| Lieut. L. Holbech, M.C. | Intelligence Officer. |
| Capt. L. St. L. Hermon-Hodge | No. 1 Company. |
| 2nd Lieut. D. L. King | " " |
| Lieut. W. H. S. Dent | No. 2 Company. |
| 2nd Lieut. C. J. N. Adams | " " |
| Lieut. R. H. R. Palmer | No. 3 Company. |
| 2nd Lieut. K. B. Bibby | " " |
| 2nd Lieut. E. G. Harcourt-Vernon | " " |
| Lieut. C. C. Cubitt | No. 4 Company. |
| 2nd Lieut. B. R. Osborne | " " |
| Lieut. E. L. Coffin | Medical Officer. |
Nov. 4.
The Battalion marched from Capelle through La Croisette and Villers Pol to its assembly area, which was a line 100 yards east of the Jenlain—Le Quesnoy road. Villers Pol was being heavily shelled at the time, and a good number of casualties resulted. Lieut.-Colonel Walker was ordered to advance in support of the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards, until the capture of the first objective, the Fresnay—Wargnies-le-Petit road, had been completed, then to pass through and secure the second objective, a line some 3000 yards farther east. Zero hour was fixed for 7.20 a.m. The rain ceased early, but a very heavy mist hung low over the ground and made it impossible for troops to see more than 200 yards ahead. No. 4 Company, under Lieutenant Cubitt, was on the left of the line; No. 3 Company, under Lieutenant Palmer, on the right; No. 2 Company, under Lieutenant Dent, in support; and No. 1 Company, under Captain Hermon-Hodge, in reserve.
The 2nd Guards Brigade under Brigadier-General Sergison-Brooke went forward on the right of the Battalion. Owing to mist the Coldstream lost their direction, and proceeded at a right incline. Seeing troops ahead moving along close to the barrage, the foremost companies of the Battalion imagined that they were Coldstream Guards making for the first objective. It was only discovered later that these were really the Germans in retirement. As No. 4 Company passed over the high ground near the wood south-west of Wargnies-le-Petit, the mist suddenly lifted, and they came under heavy machine-gun fire from the north. Lieutenant Cubitt was wounded, and the company had a considerable number of casualties. Second Lieutenant Osborne, who now took command, led two platoons a bit farther by short rushes, but was eventually stopped by a sweeping machine-gun fire, which made farther progress impossible. German field-guns were also firing at a short range, and the Battalion lost a good many men. Lieutenant Osborne therefore took it upon himself to make a personal reconnaissance of the enemy's positions, and see whether there was not a better line of advance. With almost reckless gallantry he went out, and carefully examined the German line, but the result of his scrutiny was never known, as he was shot through the heart by a machine-gun bullet on the way back. As No. 4 Company was now without an officer, Sergeant E. Carter took command.
Nov. 5.