62nd division on the left had pushed
through Solesmes and had made good the high ground to the east of that
town, joining up with the 6th Manchesters. At 4.30 p.m. a further
barrage was put down for the 5th division and the 5th Manchesters to
continue the advance. The latter, however, were very weak, having
suffered heavy casualties, therefore "C" company of the 7th went forward
and advanced to occupy the final objectives. The enterprise was entirely
successful, and a machine gun nest, which had caused most of the trouble
on the right, was captured, the garrison surrendering as prisoners. A
dangerous counter-attack was repulsed by "C" and "D" companies and then
the line was secured, and junction made with the 5th in Marou. Enemy
artillery fire had been heavy during the day, and Battalion H.Q. in a
deep ravine suffered severely from large calibre shells, so that they
moved forward in the night to a healthier spot near the 6th H.Q. The
positions were maintained all next day until relieved by the 125th
brigade.

Luckily in this show our casualties were light, totalling a loss of
about 40 other ranks, very few being killed. The action of Capt. Baker
in forming the defensive flank for the 5th undoubtedly restored an
uncertain position, and materially assisted in the further advance. We
were all pleased when he was awarded the Military Cross for this and
general good work throughout the War with the 7th since June, 1915. The
pace and power of the attack can be gauged by the fact that six
battalions of the redoubtable Hun 25th division, in spite of their proud
record, were obliterated, and three days after the battle the division
was disbanded and absorbed in another. The destruction of this division
was an achievement of which the 42nd were justly proud. The motto of "Go
one better" had been "put over" the Boche in an unmistakable manner.

On October 23rd the division marched back to Beauvois again, the N.Z.
division having once more taken up the pursuit of the enemy, following
him vigorously to the vicinity of Le Quesnoy. The IVth corps were going
well, and all through these operations it was a noticeable feature in
the situation maps of the third army front published from time to time
that they always occupied the most advanced positions, and seemed to
perform the function of the spear head of the attacks.

MORMAL FOREST.

As the line of advance for the 42nd division lay through the huge Mormal
Forest, our training at