The 6th came in for a good deal of heavy fighting in the vicinity
of Bihucourt, but they held the village all day. The headquarters of the
7th was in an old shallow dug-out close to the light railway that had
been constructed from Achiet-le-Grand to run eastwards in the direction
of Bullecourt. This railway wound its way through a sort of valley to
the north of which lies Gomiecourt and to the north-east Mory. Due east
on higher ground are Behagnies and Sapignies where the L.F's. were
making such a fine stand. This high ground continues southwards towards
Bihucourt and Bapaume, and it was along this ridge that most of the
day's fighting took place.
During the previous night the 7th had been spread out fanwise in
out-posts covering the shallow valley, and it was not long after
daylight before the enemy began to drop shells indiscriminately about
this ground. "C" and "D" companies were ordered forward to assist the
5th and "A" and "B" were left in support. Tanks came up and they
courageously crawled out over the ridge and did some very sound work
before being knocked out by guns which had been brought up to unwonted
proximity. It was whilst crawling out to rescue a wounded man of the
crew of a tank that Sergeant Heath, M.M., was mortally wounded. The
127th brigade could not be driven from their positions and they dug
themselves in, in small section posts, confidently awaiting nightfall
and the next day's fight. The attacks died down and when darkness came,
digging parties went up to assist in the work of consolidation.
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