Part 12 (1/2)

Above brigades placed at disposal of 3rd Division, and went into line to relieve two of their brigades on Bullecourt front for a few days.

Dec. 14 to } In rest--Ba.s.seux area.

Jan. 17, 1918. }

1918.

Jan. 17. Commenced move up to Fremicourt.

Feb. 4. Enemy's silent raid on three posts of Boursies area and captured one prisoner.

13. Side-stepped into Lagnicourt Sector.

Mar. 3. 1st K.S.L.I. (2 officers and 50 other ranks, B Company) raided Magpie's Nest and captured one machine-gun--enemy fled.

16. 1st Leicesters (2 officers and 50 other ranks) repeated raid-- post empty.

21. _Great German offensive commenced._ Fighting all day--heavy casualties--71st and 18th Infantry Brigades holding out in Reserve line till dark.

22. Fighting all day on Corps line.

Remnants of Division relieved at night--to Achiet and Logeast Wood.

25. By train to Second Army.

30. King's visit to Steenvoorde.

April 3-4. Into line in Ypres Salient on high ground between Menin and Zonnebeke Roads--came under XXII Corps.

13. 71st Infantry Brigade left to join 49th Division on Neuve Eglise front.

16. Line withdrawn to battle zone--enemy followed up in the afternoon and a good many casualties were inflicted on him-- one party of twenty-five annihilated.

18. Enemy raided post unsuccessfully and lost an officer killed--identification obtained by us.

25. Capture of Kemmel by enemy from the French.

26. 71st Infantry Brigade returned to Division.

Night 26-27. Further withdrawal to west end of Zillebeke Lake-White Chateau.

29. Heavy attacks against Division on our right.

May 8. Unsuccessful enemy attack on Ridgewood.

11-14. Side-slipped to south and came into II Corps.

19. 11th Ess.e.x raided Manor Farm successfully but no prisoners taken.

May 22. 2nd D.L.I. (A and C Companies) raided pill-boxes Bedford front and took sixteen prisoners.