they
crossed the valley of the Sensee river. Captain Fyfe was in command and
at once decided to attack the enemy, who were entrenched on the slope
facing him behind the Fontaine Crosilles--Crosilles road. Between the
road and the river was a line of wire entanglements, and in addition a
field-gun was in action against us at point blank range. Having examined
the wire, Captain Fyfe led the companies through and found the enemy
holding a communication trench running obliquely from the road. This was
at once attacked and five machine-guns captured. At this point a Bosche
coming out of a dug-out raised his rifle and shot Captain Fyfe, who
subsequently died of wounds. The Hun was at once despatched but little
satisfaction did that give for the death of one of our bravest and most
gallant officers. In front of the communication trench a further enemy
post was discovered in trenches. This was bringing machine-gun fire to
bear on the captured position. Lieut. Legate accordingly with four men
attempted to rush this post by advancing from shell hole to shell hole.
But in this gallant attempt he was killed, and the two companies, now
left without a single officer, decided to hold on to what they had
gained. This action, however, made the enemy on our front withdraw and
the left flank of the assaulting battalions was protected.

The remainder of the Battalion which had swung to the left now joined
"B" and "C" Companies, and the whole Battalion moved to the right flank
of the Brigade and formed up on the road in rear of the 6th H.L.I. to
support them in the attack on Riencourt. This was timed for 4 p.m., then
4.30 p.m. Then orders were received that the advance would be against a
limited objective, but that also was cancelled, and the welcome news
came that we would be relieved by the 57th Division. Prior to this we
had to send two companies to hold Fontaine Crosilles, to cover the gap
between ourselves and the Canadians. "A" and "C" Companies were sent
there under command of Acting R.S.M. Jones, as by this time there was
only one company officer left with the Battalion--Lieut. W.H. Milne.
The relief took place and we moved out on the morning of 28th August.

During the night our Headquarters were in a captured pill box, where
files of papers and maps dealing with defence schemes were collected. It
appears that this pill box had been a last obstacle to our attacks in
this part in 1917, but had not been taken then.

The total casu