he S.O.S. had been sent, and for half an hour
we had an excellent daylight firework display, right along the road in
front, and incidentally on Corpl. Hunter's post. The enemy started
retaliation at once, and cut our telephone wires as usual, so that once
we had got the barrage on we could not turn it off without considerable
delay.

At dark on the night of 18th "A" Company relieved "D," who now retired
for a space. Just before dawn on the 19th one man of "C" Company came in
through "B" Company's right post. He was one of Corpl. Hunter's devoted
band, and along with another had been sent to see about rations, and
give information about the post. Unfortunately his pal was killed by an
enemy grenade, and he was the first person to let us know that the post
was still gamely holding out. It was too late, however, to do anything
that night.

In the early afternoon of the 19th we were informed that we were to be
relieved by the Canadians that night, and about 4 p.m. we were told that
the Brigade on our right was going to re-establish all the lost ground
under a barrage at 5 p.m. The barrage was to extend along the whole
front, and our "A" Company was to push forward the post in the
communication trench and to re-occupy Hunter's post, on the assumption
that it was lost, but we hoped otherwise. The 7th H.L.I., acting on our
right flank, were to re-establish the posts round the cemetery, and form
a link between us and the battalion on our right.

Lieut. W.H. Milne, with one half of "A" Company, endeavoured to push
forward in the communication trench, but failed to get beyond the road.
Meanwhile Captain Donald, with the other half of the company, jumping
off from the centre of the communication trench, followed hard on the
barrage. But Captain Donald was killed, and his party had heavy
casualties and rather lost direction.

Between 7 and 8 o'clock "D" Company was sent up to support "A." The
situation was extremely obscure. We knew what had happened in the
trench, but no reports had been received yet from either Captain
Donald's party or the 7th H.L.I., who had jumped off from the same
place. Some of the men who had gone over, came in about 8 o'clock, and
from various reports we were able to piece together the fact that 7th
H.L.I. had got their objectives. A little later two men of "C" Company
came in to Advanced Company Headquarters, and told us that they belonged
to Hunter's post, and that he was still holding the post with