1 p.m.—Relief commenced and was successfully carried out by small parties.
6.35 p.m.—Relief completed. Dispositions now in the Village Line were: Pont Fixe, “A” Company (with “D” Company, 5th South Lancashire Regiment). Fanshawe Castle, “D” and “B” Companies. Windy Corner, “C” Company. Battalion Headquarters remained unchanged.
13th April.—The enemy bombarded the Village Line during the day, and the work of wiring the northern flank between Windy Corner and Lone Farm commenced.
14th April, 4.45 p.m.—The Windy Corner defences were taken over from “C” Company, by a Company of the 5th South Lancashire Regiment. Information was received of the forthcoming relief of the Brigade by the 1st Brigade.
15th April.—Preparations for relief by the 1st Camerons.
16th April, 11 a.m.—Lewis Gun Teams of the 1st Camerons arrived at Westminster Bridge, and were conducted by guides to Companies.
10 p.m.—Relieving Companies met at Westminster Bridge.
11.15 p.m.—Relief completed without incident. Enemy Artillery was quiet during the relief. Companies proceeded independently to a point on the Beuvry—Béthune Road, where buses were waiting to convey them to their destination. During this operation a dozen 5·9 shells fell in the vicinity, but had no effect beyond accelerating the departure of the convoy. The Company of the 5th South Lancashire Regiment left us here, and proceeded to Burbure.
One episode in this outstanding engagement may be commented on. Orchard Keep—a key position—was occupied by 2nd Lieut. J. H. Collin and sixteen Non-Commissioned Officers and men, who held the post until overwhelmed by successive attacks by the Germans. The whole of this party were reported killed, but Lance-Corporal J. Pollitt was wounded and taken prisoner. Badly wounded as he was, this N.C.O. killed his escort, and fought his way back alone to our lines. The defence of Orchard Keep made such an impression on the Higher Command that 2nd Lieut. J. H. Collin was awarded the posthumous Victoria Cross (see Appendix). It therefore seems reasonable to assume that Lance-Corpl. Pollitt, as the only survivor of this very gallant band, was an unlucky victim of the fortune of war, in that he received no official recognition of his valuable services on this and other occasions. It is interesting too, that Lance-Corpl. Pollitt was associated with the events which led to the grant of the two Victoria Crosses previously earned by the Battalion.
The Battalion arrived in billets in Marles-les-Mines at 4 a.m. on the 17th. These billets were comfortable and much appreciated. The usual daily parades followed, and these included bathing parades to Auchel, and visits to the 55th Divisional Theatre at the same village. On the 21st April at 10 a.m., the Battalion paraded and marched, accompanied by the Band, to the Aerodrome near Auchel, where an inspection of the Brigade by the Divisional Commander was held. It was anticipated that the French Premier would be present at this parade, but for some reason of State, this anticipation was not realised. At 6.30 a.m. on the 23rd, the Battalion proceeded by bus to Vaudricourt, in the Houchin area, prior to taking over trenches again. Here, as the weather was delightfully sunny, the day was spent agreeably in the woods. In the evening two Companies moved off by the light railway, to relieve the 1st Battalion The Loyals in the Givenchy Sector, while two Companies and Battalion Headquarters moved up by bus. Headquarters sustained 10 casualties through Artillery fire, when alighting near Annequin. Dispositions were as follows: Right Sector, La Bassée Canal; on the right, “A” Company; centre, “B” Company; left, “C” Company, with “D” Company in support. The Transport moved to the Château Drouvin.