B Company on the left were unable to
push on which left C Company's left flank exposed. Into this gap the
enemy quickly rushed fresh troops and attacked in force with the
result that the two companies were overwhelmed by numbers and nearly
surrounded. They were ordered to retire but not more than a quarter
got back.
We consequently were forced to hold our old line as a defensive line
and get liason with the 58th Division, who also found the enemy in
great strength and were unable to hold what they gained. We learned
afterwards that a regiment (three battalions) of the enemy were
holding the line between Ronssoy and Templeux le Guerard with orders
to fight to the last. The Battalion was now very exhausted, the
trenches were knee-deep in water, and a great number of Lewis guns and
rifles were out of action with mud and water. Major D.D. Ogilvie and
Mr Brodie Brown were the only officers left in the line, with Mr J.W.
Ormiston doing liaison between Battalion H.Q. and Captain R.H.
Colthart at Battle H.Q.--telephonic communication was almost
impossible as the line was broken every five minutes. We were
consequently very pleased when we were told we were to be relieved by
the 10th East Kent Regiment (230th Brigade), who took over from us
that night and we moved back to Longavenes.
Here we found a draft of twelve Black Watch officers awaiting us, and
the day was spent in cleaning ourselves.
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