At this point the division was pinched out of the line by the Naval
Division on the right and the N.Z. Division on the left converging
across our front in the next day's advance, and we were enabled to take
advantage of a short respite from the struggle. The vigour and
effectiveness of the 42nd division's attack has been since proved by an
unexpected tribute from the enemy. The following extract from
Ludendorf's "Memoirs of the War, 1914-1918," Vol. II., page 692, refers
to the fighting at this time:--
"On August 21st the English attacked south of Arras between
Boisleux and the Ancre.... As the offensive developed, the enemy
succeeded on the north in pushing us back from the Ancre. At this
point a Prussian division ... given a sector covered by the river,
had failed badly. This threw the whole line into confusion.... The
situation there became extremely critical about August 25th."
The 7th marched back a short distance to Irles, and made themselves
comfortable in the German dug-outs there for a day and a half. Looking
back over those days of new experiences for the battalion one realises
the valuable work accomplished by Lt. Wilkinson and his transport
section. When out of the line he invariably carried off the honours in
the "spit and polish" transport competitions frequently held in the
division, but it was on difficult occasions such as these that he showed
up to prouder advantage. The transport lines had been brought up to
Colincamps, and the distance from there to Warlencourt was about twelve
miles.
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