to make sure that the junction of my right with left of 36th Brigade (12th Division) was adequately protected. This conference consisted of Officer Commanding 60th Machine Gun Company, Officer Commanding 217th Divisional Company, Major Law, and Officer Commanding 36th Machine Gun Company. I think we had 8 or perhaps 10 machine guns covering the right; apart of course from guns in the main line. There were also 2 guns just in rear of the Cemetery. You may remember I was rather keen on that. There were also 4 or 6 guns in the "Ravine". I was having breakfast at about 6.30am on the morning of the 30th when I heard artillery fire in the distance at first but I was not sure of the direction. I called up the artillery and asked what it was. They replied "All quiet on our front". The Battalions were also called up and reported shelling on the right "All quiet on our front". 36th Brigade on being called up replied heavy shelling on their front but no knowledge of the situation. 61st Brigade replied "All right". I think the time then was between 7am and 7.15am. I cannot remember what time it was that we received a message SOS GRAND. I think it must have been somewhere about 7.15am this was sent to all units and the Battalion in reserve was told to "Stand to". Immediately after this I gave an order for this Battalion to take up its battle position. [new page] This it did, from the account of its Commander. After this we received a message from 61st Brigade on our left saying they could see men coming back. Shortly after this was confirmed by our Brigade Observer and the Intelligence Officer at once went up to Brigade observation post to further confirm. We tried to telephone to Division and to Battalion but all communication was interrupted. An artillery observing officer then came in to the dug out and reported that he had just had time to leave his observation post as the enemy were advancing. The enemy by that time were within easy range of Brigade headquarters and I decided to get to some point where I could better direct and rally and also get in to communication. (The Reserve Battalion had rallied most men near them). I sent an officer, Captain Williams, Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, to report the situation to Division. Brigade headquarters was being very heavy shelled and machine gunned and also the Sunken Road down which we proceeded. I eventually reached a point between La Vacquerie and the Hindenburg Line sending an officer to look for some telephone system. The Brigade Major and an acting Staff Captain went back to where the Reserve Battalion was in position and saw Colonels Priaulx and Morgan-Owen and Sheepshank.