Beesley commanded his platoon with such courage and success right out on our far-flung battle line in the vicinity of Wurst Farm and Aviatik Farm until he was badly wounded; and to him also was the Military Cross awarded.  And John Agnew, who was second-in-command of C Company, took command of that company when Captain Mordecai was wounded:  “Although shot through the knee, he continued to advance and lead his men to their objective—­a distance of some 4,000 yards.  He was then again wounded and had to return, being wounded a third time on his way back.  Although his wounds were serious he refused to take a stretcher, in order that more serious cases might be dealt with.  He set a splendid example of pluck and unselfishness.”  The Military Cross was also Agnew’s reward.  When I met him again at Scarborough he was a cripple.  Heroic, too, was the end of that flamboyant patriot Talbot Dickinson, M.C., my Company Commander.  “He was wounded in the arm,” wrote one of his friends, “but carried on to a very advanced position, and, while encouraging his men, was shot through the head.”  With him Sergeant-Major Preston, too, was killed.

Sergeant Howarth was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his personal initiative in taking command of the Battalion when no officers were to be found, and for the able way in which he executed his task; and the D.C.M. was also awarded to Lance-Corporal Lawson.

Eleven Military Medals were awarded for deeds done that day:  Sergeant Baldwin, Sergeant Olive, Corporal Fox, Lance-Corporal Furnes, Sergeant Hudson, and Privates Baron, Daynes, R. Turner, Rouse, Rodwell and Fitzpatrick.

The casualties, as has already been pointed out, were tremendous.  Five hundred and ninety-three other ranks went into battle; four hundred and seventy-three became casualties.  It was a very tiny Battalion therefore that went to rest, reorganize, and train at Le Poirier a few days later!

Gilbert Verity had expired shortly after his misfortune in Congreve Walk.  Douglas Bernard Priestly was shot through the head and killed instantly almost as soon as he got over the top.  The fate of the Adjutant, Reggie Andrews, whom I last saw aimlessly wandering about the battlefield shortly after we went over and who looked over his glasses at me and inquired whether I had seen anything of Headquarters, has already been recorded.  And the Assistant-Adjutant met a similar fate:  Gratton was, first of all, wounded and he lay in a shell-hole; and while he was in the shell-hole another shell came right into the hole and took his head clean off.  Joye remained with Colonel Best-Dunkley until quite late in the day, when he got the ‘Blighty’ in the leg which was to send him to join me at Worsley Hall.  Captain Briggs, Telfer, and Young, together with a large number of other ranks, were taken prisoners; Briggs and Telfer were also wounded.  West was badly wounded.  Captain Andrews, Captain Mordecai and Donald Allen