2 The enemy showed no sign of their presence during the night, and just before dawn on 23rd the company stood to arms. When it got broad daylight and patrols north of the bridge had reported the neighbourhood quite clear, the men were turned on to improving the defences. A farm house E some 100 yards east of the main position was loopholed. At about 9am the alarm was given by the patrols and a few isolated shots began to come over from the enemy's side of the canal. All the defences were at once occupied and the fire was returned, but only a few hostile scouts were observed in the wood north of the bridge. Shortly afterwards, heavy firing was heard on the right and left, and the enemy began to shell the railway station some distance away on our right rear. This continued for at least an hour without any attack being developed on our bridge. A platoon from the reserve under Lieutenant Pollock was sent into the farm house E but this officer was ordered to evacuate the buildings in the event of hostile artillery fire being directed on them. This platoon had a very good field of fire and about the same time as it took up its position in the farm, the enemy were seen advancing in some strength towards some factory buildings about 300 yards north east of the bridge. Lieutenant Pollock's platoon evidently caused some losses among them, as shortly afterwards his farm was shelled by the enemy and he sent a verbal message to say that he was beginning to lose men from their shell fire and was withdrawing his platoon from the farm and lining the ditch immediately in front of him. The other reserve platoon lined the ditch on the left of the main position.