" Two
days later we were at Herlies. On the night 10/11th October the 229th
Brigade took over from the 231st Brigade, and on the 14th we moved
into the line relieving the 12th Battalion S.L.I., D Company on left,
A in centre, and B on right, with C in support in Ligny Wood. On 15th
October we occupied the railway line east of Ligny, and next day our
patrols had pushed forward to the outskirts of Haubourdin (a suburb of
Lille). On the 17th we again advanced, crossed the Haute Deule Canal,
and on reaching our final objective handed over to the 16th Devons
while we remained in support. Petit Ronchin, Ascq (on the
Lille-Tournai road), and Baisieux gave us billets for the following
nights. We were now in support to the Somersets, who carried on the
advance until held up outside Marquain. The 231st Brigade had been
withdrawn, so the Division was advancing on a one-battalion frontage.
As soon as Orcq was gained we were to pass through the Somersets and
carry on the advance. The enemy's resistance, however, was stiffening,
and the Somersets were unable to push on. On the 22nd we took over the
line in front of Orcq, but found it impossible to patrol much to the
front owing to the heavy machine-gun fire. The trenches opposite were
well wired in and strongly manned, and the attack by B Company on the
23rd was held up within 100 yards of the objective by intense
trench-mortar and machine-gun fire and artillery barrage, and the two
platoons were compelled to withdraw to their original line after
suffering 32 casualties.
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