the front line, W Company, now
under 2nd Lieut. R.H. Wharrier, being in front in Snag trench and the
other three Companies in close support in the Flers line. On the night of
Saturday, the 4th November, X, Y and Z Companies took over the front line
in preparation for an attack on the Butte de Warlencourt on the Sunday
morning. Zero had been fixed for 9.15 a.m. and the relief was not
complete, owing to the extremely bad state of the trenches, till 9 a.m.
The Battalion was disposed for the attack with X Company on the right, Y
in the centre, Z on the left and W in support, with the 9th Battalion on
the left flank and the 8th on the right. This fateful day, 5th November,
proved to be the most disastrous the Battalion had yet passed through.
The enemy position was exceptionally strong, the trenches from which the
attack started were so muddy that several men were drowned in them, and
the time for preparation was so short that the attack broke down almost
as soon as it had started. The casualties were very heavy, and included
amongst the officers 2nd Lieut. K.B. Stuart, 2nd Lieut. Fell, 2nd Lieut.
A.S. Ritson, 2nd Lieut. S. Robson, 2nd Lieut. T.F. Applegarth, and 2nd
Lieut. G.W. Robson, all killed, and all the remaining Company officers,
except 2nd Lieut. Wharrier, wounded. Amongst the honours awarded were the
M.C. to 2nd Lieut. Wharrier and the Military Medal to L.-Cpl. H.
Cruddace, who was also promoted to be sergeant. A monument was afterwards
erected on the Butte to the memory of those of the Battalion who fell on
this day.

On the following night the Battalion was relieved by the 5th Battalion
and went back to Mametz Wood, where it stayed till the end of the month
supplying working parties daily. Several new officers joined here,
including Lieut.-Col. H.M. Allen, Black Watch, who took over command;
Lieut. (now Major) Ebsworth becoming Second in Command.

Towards the end of the month came rumours of a rest, and on the 30th the
Battalion marched off once more to Becourt, where it was this time
accommodated in huts. After a night there it marched back to billets at
Warloy, where it stayed during the whole of December, training and
resting. The rest was thoroughly enjoyed by all ranks. On Christmas Day
sports were held which included a mounted officers' race won by Lieut.
H.T. Bircham, M.C., transport officer.

On New Year's Day the Battalion was on its way back to the line. The
first day's march took it to billets in Al