It was now about 10 a.m. on
the 10th April, and the enemy had renewed his attack and gained a footing
in Lestrem. From this, however, he was driven by the 7th Durham Light
Infantry company, but further to the south he had pressed back the
Highlanders.

Orders were then received to withdraw in a N.W. direction to the line of
the Lys canal, the company of 7th Durham Light Infantry being moved over
to the left flank to fill a gap which had been caused by the readjustment
of their line by the 5th Durham Light Infantry. Meanwhile, the 8th Durham
Light Infantry, which was in rear, was ordered up to occupy the line
between the right flank of the Battalion and the 51st Division.

The new position was being fairly well held when it was reported that the
5th Durham Light Infantry on the left had been forced to retire. Both
flanks being now uncertain, the Battalion was withdrawn towards Merville,
under very heavy machine-gun fire. A stand was made on the outskirts of
the town, but before night the fighting was taking place in the streets
of the town.

The next day the retirement continued towards the Foret de Nieppe, and a
line was taken up near Le Sart. By this time the strength of the
Battalion was very small, and with the remnants of the 8th Durham Light
Infantry, a composite battalion was formed under Lieut.-Col. P. Kirkup,
M.C. Eventually, all were withdrawn from the fighting, and moved to the
grounds of La Motte Chateau, where they came under very heavy shell fire
for a short time. For a few days longer they remained on the western edge
of the Forest and provided working parties on new trenches in the forest
itself on a line in front of the Rue des Morts. At the end of this time
they were taken out to billets at Cohem, near Wittes, where they remained
for about a week reorganising and cleaning. Here Lieut.-Col. F. Walton,
M.C., returned and took over command of the Battalion from Major T.B.
Heslop, who was subsequently awarded the D.S.O. for his services whilst
in command. Other honours gained in the Lys battle were the Military
Cross by Lieut. A.N. Brown, the bar to the Military Cross by C.S.M. T.
Sordy, M.C., the D.C.M. by Sergt. P. Finn, and Military Medals by Sergts.
Bell and Cooper.

Having now shared in two great battles within a month, a rest was
confidently expected, and very soon orders were received to move by 'bus
to Lapugnoy, near Bethune, to entrain for an unknown destination, though
rumour suggested somewh