move up at once and take over the outpost line which was now just West of the Petite Helpe river.  We moved off in fours along the road, and in the same formation marched into Cartignies, a village full of civilians and blazing with lights, although a German machine gun less than 400 yards away kept sending bullets over the main street.  No one seemed very certain where the outposts were, nor who was responsible, so we mounted some sentries in the best positions we could find, and soon after midnight Colonel Digan, who had been to Brigade Headquarters, held a conference and explained the next day’s plan of attack.  It was now obvious that the Boche was in full retreat.

The weather the next day, the 7th of November, was fortunately much better, and we moved down to the Petite Helpe soon after dawn.  Patrols had been out during the night to look for crossings, but beyond reporting that the main road bridge had been blown up, which we already knew, they gathered no information of importance, so “C” Company, who were leading, had to make use of tree trunks and cross as best they could.  However, the Engineers soon appeared, and the rest of the Battalion crossed by a pontoon bridge.  With the French on the right and Lincolnshires on the left, “D” Company (T.  Ball) and “C” Company (Banwell) now pushed forward rapidly, and in spite of a thick mist had soon gained the first two objectives and reached the road running North and South through a group of houses called Cheval Blanc.  Battalion Headquarters and the right half followed, and at midday were quartered in a group of farm houses about 600 yards West of Cheval Blanc, where they were joined by Capt.  Hills, who returned from leave and resumed his duties as Adjutant.  As soon as they had had dinners, “A” Company (Snaith) and “B” Company (Pierrepont) moved forward so as to be in closer support to “C” and “D” Companies respectively.

After passing the second objective, the leading Companies soon began to meet with opposition, and a machine gun cleverly concealed at the next cross-roads made further advance by “C” Company impossible.  As the Lincolnshires were similarly held up on their left, the flank could not be turned.  “D” Company, however, pushed forward further in the mist, and, though there was plenty of machine gun fire, it was unaimed and did no damage.  The leading Platoon, under 2nd Lieut.  Bettles, crossed a valley and started to climb the rise beyond, on the top of which they expected to find the main Avesnes Road.  Suddenly, as they burst through a hedge almost on the road, they came upon a German four gun field battery—­officers and men standing round their guns, apparently not expecting any attack, and horses tethered near by.  The platoon rushed in with bayonets, captured or killed all they could find and, led by 2nd Lieut.  Bettles, dashed across the road into some houses on the far side, where they saw some enemy. 2nd Lieut.  Bettles was killed with a pistol bullet, but the Boche were driven out, and Lieut.  Ball came up and started at once to consolidate his captured position.  One officer, 29 men and eight horses were sent down as prisoners.