Our patrols searched all
the low ground in front but could not find the enemy.
Next morning, March 27th, about 9 o'clock, the battle re-opened with
redoubled vigour. Fresh enemy troops had been brought up and they made a
determined attempt to push forward. A terrific bouncing barrage came
down upon our positions, but the men stood up to it, in spite of the
heavy casualties, and opened fire upon the groups of Boche who attempted
to get across the open. The main infantry assault took place near
Ablainzevelle, and here the 6th had the work of repelling them, but
after some hand to hand fighting the enemy fell back and confined his
energies to sniping and M.G. work. Meanwhile, the landscape was steadily
changing its appearance in the 7th sector. What had once been good roads
and respectable fields were shell-pitted and strewn with debris, a pile
of S.A.A. boxes that had been left behind had been hit and in the fire
that resulted there was a disturbing display of fireworks from the
exploding cartridges. The trees were losing their accustomed beauty,
many having been smashed down completely. But picture the trepidation of
the aid-post detachment, now in charge of Capt. Greville, for they lay
close to a huge dump of shells that was liable to be hit at any moment.
During the quieter days Bucquoy had evidently been an ammunition park,
and as not much of the stuff had been removed, it was an exciting spot
to fight in.
All day this steady pounding continued, and when the enemy infantry
definitely gave up their efforts to get near our line they supplemented
the shelling by an unceasing hail of traversing M.
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