ter some hand to hand fighting the enemy fell back and confined his
energies to sniping and M.G. work. Meanwhile, the landscape was steadily
changing its appearance in the 7th sector. What had once been good roads
and respectable fields were shell-pitted and strewn with debris, a pile
of S.A.A. boxes that had been left behind had been hit and in the fire
that resulted there was a disturbing display of fireworks from the
exploding cartridges. The trees were losing their accustomed beauty,
many having been smashed down completely. But picture the trepidation of
the aid-post detachment, now in charge of Capt. Greville, for they lay
close to a huge dump of shells that was liable to be hit at any moment.
During the quieter days Bucquoy had evidently been an ammunition park,
and as not much of the stuff had been removed, it was an exciting spot
to fight in.

All day this steady pounding continued, and when the enemy infantry
definitely gave up their efforts to get near our line they supplemented
the shelling by an unceasing hail of traversing M.G. fire. Yet, through
this the runners and stretcher bearers performed their appointed tasks,
and there was no period when perfect touch was not maintained between
the C.O. and any part of the front line and also back to brigade H.Q.,
nor were there cases of wounded men being left unduly exposed after they
had been hit. The constant stream of runners, etc., of both battalions
converging on the H.Q. dug-out, exposed to observation as it was, soon
made the truth of the matter plain to the enemy, and he began to pay
attention to it with 5.9's. An anxious moment came when he hit the
entrance and buried a number of men standing in the improvised steps.
All were extricated, however, and those who were wounded carried away.
The entrance was cleared, steps constructed again, and the work carried
on as usual. "D" company lost its commander again, for Lieut. Morten was
hit, and this left Lieut. Gresty in charge.

Evening again brought a welcome respite, and it was decided to minimise
casualties by reducing the garrisons of the front trenches, for by now a
sort of trench had been made and a little wire had been put out in front
the previous night. One platoon per company was taken out and sent back,
where they were placed under the command of Col. Blatherwick of the 5th,
who remained in brigade support. Daylight of March 28th brought a
resumption of the enemy effort at least to straighten his lin