top of the ridge. Lieut. H. N. Kay of "B" company was shot dead at close
range during the clearing of a dug-out in the early stages of this
fight, while later on this company suffered heavy casualties, Sgt.
Green, D.C.M., M.M., being killed and Sgts. Guttery and Gleeson wounded.
On reaching the final objective Lt. Douglas carried out work of the
greatest value in the organisation of his company. In spite of the
strongly increasing enemy shell-fire he moved about amongst his men with
such coolness and disregard for personal danger that his example
inspired the men for the strong counter attacks which later took place.
For his splendid leadership and initiative he was afterwards awarded the
Military Cross. Capt. Grey Burn and his company on the right were having
an awkward time from enemy snipers, but he organised his now small
numbers very carefully, and personally kept the enemy under close
observation. Seeing an enemy concentration in progress, evidently for a
counter-attack, he quickly gave information, and the gunners were able
to disperse the enemy with a very effective barrage.

The conduct of all ranks during the counter-attack, which was launched
early in the afternoon, was so splendid that it broke up the Hun effort.
Later in the day the enemy made another attack with a strong body of
picked storm-troops from another division brought up specially from the
reserves, but the greeting they received from our rifle, Lewis gun, and
machine-gun fire caused enormous casualties, and the attack collapsed.
Capt. Grey Burn was decorated with the M.C. for his share in this
splendid day's work. The ground captured in the first day's fighting,
representing an advance of 5,000 yards, was consolidated and held for
the next two days, during which time the left of the division was
executing a turning movement to encircle Miraumont from the north. The
work of the signallers, under Lt. Smith, cannot be too highly praised
for their contribution to the success of this battle, because
communications throughout the operation were excellent and twice served
to bring down a barrage in short time, so assisting the infantry to
smash the enemy attacks. The stretcher bearers nobly performed their
work under most trying conditions, what with the heavy mist followed
later by intense heat, the badly broken ground and the long distances
they had to carry the wounded under shell fire. Lce-Cpl. Twist, M.M., of
"D" company, performed prodigies of str