And yet in the midst of the bitterness and the sadness one cannot keep back the feeling of pride that it should be so with our comrades.
We carried the packs of the Battalion back to the transport that we had brought with us, and after a long march reached our billets again about 5 a.m. Our mission had been unfulfilled but we had tried. I thanked the men on your behalf, Sir, for coming.
Next day General Hibbert came to see us, and got a description of what had happened—chiefly from Ralston, Hay and Campbell.
By this time Graham had returned from hospital and had taken command. He has done splendidly since, and has made every effort to pull what was left of the Battalion together, and to keep them from thinking that all further need for effort was over for them.
General Hibbert inspected the Battalion on Saturday, 19th, and Major-General Sir R. Bannatine-Allason on Monday, 21st. They both thanked the Regiment for the good work they had done. They deeply regretted the very heavy losses, and said that although the attack by the Battalion had not been in the end entirely successful, yet it had had an important influence on the operations at other portions of the Allies' lines.
But the work was not yet finished, there can be no stopping, and we must refit and 'carry on.'
I am trying to carry out the duties of acting Adjutant. J. C. Wilson has reported for duty with the Battalion till further instructions from the Royal Flying Corps, and we are glad of his help.
On Tuesday, 22nd, we moved forward again to what the Division called an 'intermediate position,' and on Monday a working party of 200 men with full proportion of Officers was called for.
We just managed to furnish this with the equipment available and sent all four Officers with it. It returned at about 4.30 a.m. in safety.
To-day, Thursday, 20th, a message has come that the Brigade is to be prepared to move to a new area about 8 p.m.