The C.O. with the right half Battalion crossed the Canal opposite Bois L’Abbaye, and pushed on into the village untroubled by shell fire, which was at the time mostly directed against the left half Battalion, which, with Battalion Headquarters, crossed further South.  The country beyond was very thick, and by the time the left Companies reached L’Ermitage it was almost dark, and consequently communications were difficult between the two half Battalions, more particularly as the C.O. was separated from his runners and signallers.  The Companies at L’Ermitage dug themselves in and were fairly comfortable, but they were not destined to remain so for long, for orders soon came that they would relieve the 2nd Brigade.  These orders, however, were cancelled before being sent out, and instead the Brigade was ordered to relieve the 1st Brigade, who were on the left.  The reason for this was that the 32nd Division, who were on the left of the Corps attack, had not yet reported the capture of all objectives, and it was consequently necessary to secure the 1st Division’s left flank.  While, therefore, the other two Battalions took over the line facing East, we found a defensive flank facing North—­the Battalion being organized in depth on a single Company front.  “A” Company (Snaith), with “B” Company (Pierrepont) in close support, was a few yards South of the main Catillon-La Groise Road; behind them came “C” Company (Banwell), while Battalion Headquarters and “D” Company (T.  Ball) remained in Bois L’Abbaye.  These positions we occupied all night.

At dawn the following day the advance was continued by the 137th and 139th Brigades who passed through us, but, as the 32nd Division had still no definite information, we maintained our defensive flank position—­a ludicrous performance in view of the streams of unmolested traffic which passed along the road in front of us.  Later in the morning, however, “B” and “C” Companies were sent forward to occupy the line that the Lincolnshires had held during the night, where they found no cover except one large farm house which the Boche was shelling heavily.  It was raining hard, and for some time they sat in the fields hoping for the rain or the shelling to stop; the latter did eventually cease, but not until a large shell had gone through the roof of the farm house, making it uninhabitable.  During the afternoon the weather became so appalling that they all moved into houses in Mezieres and spent the night there, while the remainder of the Battalion concentrated in Bois L’Abbaye.

The battle still went on the next day in the pouring rain, and our Brigade moved slowly forward in Divisional support, halting for dinners at Erruart, and reaching Prisches late in the afternoon; our only excitement throughout the day was to watch a battery of 60 pounders get into difficulties in a muddy field.  At Prisches we learnt that Cartignies had been cleared by the other Brigades, and we were accordingly ordered to