to us, and we were able to
get some idea as to his movements in that direction. It was soon evident
that they were to be utilised as a stepping stone to a further advance.
First, light M.G's. and snipers were brought up, and these dribbled out
of the huts into Ablainzevelle, where they established themselves to the
discomfort of our men, for they were well on our left flank and could
take some of our position in enfilade. The battalion suffered a number
of casualties from this cause. Unfortunately also, our guns had not got
a clear conception of the state of affairs, and one battery fairly
peppered the H.Q. road with shrapnel, inflicting about a dozen
casualties, while others covered our own forward positions with the same
kind of shell, and so added to the list. I am convinced that there is
nothing more demoralising to a soldier in defence than to come under the
fire of his own guns, so, to say the least, these moments were very
trying. The difficulty of communicating with the rear caused a further
delay in the correction of this serious blunder, and our men had to
maintain a grip on their positions whilst subjected to fire from both
sides, for by this time the enemy had got his guns up, impudently close
to the front line, evidently with a view to a further advance, and was
using them to advantage. Some of them could be distinctly seen on the
outskirts of Logeast Wood, and it was obvious that most of the others
responsible for our discomfort were in the Wood itself. Further away the
roads from Grevillers, Bapaume, Loupart Wood, etc., could be seen choked
with masses of advancing Germans. If only we had had a few 60-pounders,
what perfect execution we should have accomplished. There were batteries
of guns, companies of infantry, columns of transport, staff-cars, and
all the impedimenta of a moving army. I expect the heart of every Hun of
them swelled with the pride of achievement. They were marching to the
last victory that was going to obliterate the hated English and end the
war. They were not yet aware that just here there was a row of troops,
from right to left, New Zealanders, Australians, Yorkshiremen,
Lancashiremen, and Guards, who did not intend to concede another yard of
ground.

How we longed for the heavy guns during the days that followed, but they
could not, of course, come into action until the infantry line had been
stabilised. Weeks later we heard stories of the doings on those roads
behind the lines, a