back.  The situation was critical, and Lieut.  Wollaston, deciding to leave his guns now that they were in good positions, made his way along the trench and tried to rally the stragglers.  Many were too badly shaken to go forward again, but some answered his call and collecting some more grenades the little party started back towards the Redoubt.  Lieut.  Wollaston was knocked down and wounded in the back by a shell, but still went forward, and, reaching the first German line, turned left towards “Little Willie,” which the Boche was still holding in force.  At the same time General Kemp ordered two of our Companies to be sent up to assist, and Colonel Jones sent word to “B” and “A” to move up.  One message from the Redoubt which reached Colonel Jones at this time said “Please send bombs and officers.”

Captain Langdale decided to advance in line, and leaving their trenches the four platoons started off in that formation.  The platoon commanders became casualties in the first few yards, 2nd Lieut.  Marriott being wounded and the two others gassed, and by the time they reached our front line the Company Commander was leading them himself.  Walking along with his pipe in his mouth, Captain Langdale might have been at a Field Day, as he calmly signalled his right platoon to keep up in line, with “keep it up, Oakham,” as they crossed our trench.  The line was kept, and so perfectly that many of the stragglers who had come back turned and went forward again with them.  But once more as they were reaching the German front line came that deadly machine gun fire, and their gallant Commander was one of the first to fall, killed with a bullet in the head.  C.S.M.  Lovett was badly wounded at the same time, Serjt.  Franks killed, and the Company, now leaderless, was broken into isolated parties fighting with bombs in the various trenches.

“A” Company followed.  Keeping his platoons more together and on a smaller frontage, Captain Hastings decided to attempt a bayonet attack against the German opposition on the left of the Redoubt, and himself led his men up to the attack.  Again Platoon Commanders were the first to fall, and as they climbed out of our trenches, 2nd Lieut.  Lawton was mortally wounded in the stomach and 2nd Lieut.  Petch badly shot through the arm.  However, this did not delay the attack, and the Company, crossing the German front line, quickened their pace and made for the junctions of “Little Willie” and “N.  Face.”  Once more bombs and machine guns were too hot for them, and first Capt.  Hastings, then 2nd Lieut.  Moss were killed near the German second line, leaving the Company in the hands of 2nd Lieut.  Tomson and C.S.M.  Gorse, who at once organized the platoons for the defence of the second line, realizing that it was useless to try to advance further. 2nd Lieut.  Petch, in spite of his wound, remained several hours with his platoon, but eventually had to leave them.  The ground was covered with the dead and wounded of the other Battalions, Fosse and Dump trenches were filled with Germans and machine guns, “S.  Face” and both “Willies” were full of bombers, and worst of all the machine guns of Mad Point, Madagascar and the Slag-heap had apparently escaped untouched.  There was only one thing left to do, and that to hold what we had got against these bombing attacks, and consolidate our new position without delay.