close to Lieut.  Barrett’s pistol arm and put it out of action, and by this time he was becoming exhausted.  Calling his N.C.O.’s together, he explained what had happened and gave them careful directions as to how to get out, himself quite calm the whole time.  Acting on his instructions, those of the party who were left cut their way out; Lieut.  Barrett, refusing help, started to crawl through the wire, and was again wounded.  He eventually reached the R.A.P. literally covered with wounds.  Contrary to the Doctor’s expectations, however, he not only lived to receive his Victoria Cross, but soon made a complete recovery.

At the same time, Captain Tomson, finding his Company now consisted only of his signallers, runners, and batmen, and unable to find out where the rest had gone, determined to try and rush the machine guns which were keeping up such a steady fire close to his left flank.  His little party forced their way through some wire and found themselves opposed by three guns.  With a shout of “Come along Tigers, show them what you can do,” Captain Tomson led them straight at the enemy.  Two of the gun teams were overcome, but the third could not be reached, and fired at them point blank.  L/Cpl.  Signaller J. Smith was wounded and fell, Captain Tomson, bending down to tie him up, was shot through the head.  Only two men got away, leaving their leader, now dead, in a small shelter outside the trench.  Smith, mortally wounded, refused to be taken away, saying “Leave me with Captain Tomson, I shall be all right”—­and there he died next to his Company Commander.  So perished the kindest hearted and bravest gentleman that ever commanded a Company in the Regiment.  Calm, cheerful, with a friendly word for all, Captain Tomson was the father of his men, and a warm friend to his brother officers and N.C.O.’s.

By 6-30 a.m. it was daylight, but the fog and smoke still lay like a thick blanket along the valley, hiding the village and all that was going on there.  It was not until 7-45 a.m. that the wind blew this away, and we were at last able to see how we had fared.  The village, with the exception of the blockhouse corner, was in our hands.  “C” Company were holding more than half its Eastern side, while “A” and part of “B” had reformed after the attack and were dug in just outside the N.W. corner.  The only troops actually in Pontruet were those with Corpl.  Barber at the Cemetery.  The road leading West from the village was thronged with prisoners and stretcher bearers making their way towards the large crater on the main road, used as a Company Headquarters by the Sherwood Foresters.  Captain Jack had established his Aid Post at the bottom of the little valley running down to the road, and here, helped by the never-tiring Padre Buck, was busily employed with our wounded.