The 18th Battalion came back with the 41st Division from Italy on 21st March; they were in Corps reserve to the IV Corps and moved to Achiet-le-Grand on the 22nd. They were engaged in heavy fighting on the 24th, when their Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel R. Pennell, D.S.O., was wounded. The Battalion could not be extricated and the survivors, acting as one company, assisted the 123rd Brigade in their retirement to Gommecourt. On the 29th/ 30th they were relieved, being then about 80 strong, having been nearly 900 strong on 21st March.

Losses: Officers: killed 3, wounded 5, missing 7; other ranks: about 800.

German Attack on 9th April

The next action in which the Regiment was involved was the enemy's attack on the Second Army near Neuve Chapelle, extended the next day to the Ypres—Comines Canal. Our 16th Battalion, 100th Brigade, 33rd Division, was involved near Neuve Eglise on 12th April. Their flank was turned and their Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel A. V. Johnson, D.S.O., and his Adjutant were both wounded. Isolated units fought on gallantly until the 15th, when their remnants were formed into a composite battalion with the 9th Highland Light Infantry. On the 17th this unit was attacked, but held its position intact.

Losses: Officers: killed 4, wounded 9, missing 10; other ranks: 544.

The battle honours YPRES, 1918; MESSINES, 1918; LYS BAILLEUL; KEMMEL; and BETHUNE were gained for the Regiment by the 16th Battalion in the above operations.

This ended the Regiment's part in this critical period. The Germans had failed to separate the British from the French; they had failed to capture the important railheads of Amiens and Hazebrouck and the Channel ports were safe. By the end of May the situation was saved and victory in the autumn became a definite possibility.

The Allies Take The Offensive

8th August. The first great step forward was the successful offensive of the Fourth Army under Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Rawlinson near Amiens on 8th August. As soon as enemy resistance hardened the Third Army, on the left of the Fourth Army, were ordered to attack.