r the gallant leading of Major Radford,
fought splendidly, losing 14 officers and over 200 other ranks.

The artillery performed magnificent services, particularly on the 21st
March. All guns that were not destroyed by the enemy's bombardment
were fought until all the ammunition was expended or the enemy's
infantry reached their position. The gunners enjoyed the novel
experience of firing over open sights and seeing the effect of their
fire, and not only with their guns but with rifles and Lewis guns did
they inflict very heavy casualties on the enemy. The 42nd Battery,
having kept their three forward guns in action after our infantry had
fallen back behind them, succeeded in bringing the two that were not
destroyed away, under the very noses of the enemy and through a heavy
barrage and machine-gun fire. The forward section of the 53rd Battery
had one gun destroyed. Lieut. Reeves got the other into the open, and,
after firing 850 rounds with it over open sights and having exhausted
his ammunition, brought back his detachment and the breech-block. The
forward section of the 87th Battery continued firing until rushed by
the enemy's infantry. Sergt. Pengelly of the 112th Battery, who was in
command of a 15-pounder in an anti-tank position, having had his gun
destroyed in the preliminary bombardment, fought for two days with the
infantry, in command of a platoon, and did great execution himself
with a pickaxe. A forward gun of the 110th Battery was fought until
all its ammunition was expended, and the breech-block was then removed
with the enemy almost on the top of the gun. For over seven hours the
main battery fired on the enemy at ranges from 1,200 to 600 yards,
expending over 2,400 rounds. The forward gun of the 111th Battery,
after expending all its ammunition (500 rounds), largely over open
sights, was withdrawn and brought into action again in the main
position, a team coming up in full view of the enemy, and under very
heavy shelling and a hail of bullets, for the purpose. The 112th
Battery had two guns in action in advance of the corps line. These
remained in action until all their ammunition was expended, and the
detachments then withdrew with all their wounded and the breech-blocks
of their guns, the enemy being by this time actually on the wire of
the corps line.

The instances quoted are only typical of the conduct of the whole of
the artillery of the Division, which fully justified the very high
reputation i