3. On July 31, certain elements of the division, being surprised and later reassembled on the western border of the Houthulst forest, counter attacked in the direction of Bixschoote and suffered rather heavy losses.
4. The 2d Reserve Guard Division remained in this sector eight days. It was relieved August 8–9 and sent to rest in the district of Gand (Lakeren-Ostnieuwekerke) till the beginning of September.
5. About the 10th of September it was sent into the line on the front west of Passchendaele (southeast of St. Julien). It was withdrawn from this position toward the end of the month in order to go in again, almost immediately, to the southeast of Armentieres.
6. It remained there until the end of November, after which it reappeared on the front west and north of Passchendaele in December.
7. It was relieved February 1, 1918, and went into the district of Roulers.
VALUE—1917 ESTIMATE.
The 2d Reserve Guard Division was always considered as being an excellent division because it had always fought well, though it showed only mediocre fighting qualities to the north of Ypres in 1917.
The 31st of July it counterattacked without energy and without success in the direction of Bixschoote. During the approach, a great number of men remained in the rear.
Following this, its attitude was passive.