The situation was obscure, changing as it did from hour to hour. As the enemy thrust forward, gaining here and there, by weight of numbers, a position of tactical importance threatening a flank, plans must be hurriedly re-cast and movements diverted or stopped. At 2 p.m. on March 24 orders were received from the Corps Commander, Lieut.-General Haldane, for the relief of the 40th Division by the 42nd that night on the right sector of the 6th Corps front. The Divisional Commander went round the 40th Division’s advanced lines, and at 2 p.m., in the 40th D.H.Q. two miles east of Bucquoy, he issued orders to his Brigadiers. The 125th and 126th Brigades were moved up to Logeast Wood to facilitate the relief, and Divisional H.Q. was moved to Monchy-au-Bois. At 6 p.m. notification was received that the 40th Division would leave outposts in front of a line east of the Arras—Bapaume road, running north and south through the villages of Ervillers, Behagnies, and Sapignies, a few miles north of Bapaume, which was now in the enemy’s hands, and these would be withdrawn when the 42nd were in position. The 125th Brigade was ordered to take over the right sub-sector and the 127th the left, the 126th being in Divisional Reserve. A Special Order of the Day was issued by Major-General Solly-Flood— “On this, the first occasion on which the Major-General has had the honour of leading the Division into action, he desires to wish all ranks the best of luck. When the enemy attacks, the Divisional Commander is convinced that the Division will give such an account of itself as to make the enemy regret that they tried conclusions with East Lancashire. “This is the opportunity we want to ‘GO ONE BETTER.’” [Illustration: GOMIECOURT CHÂTEAU.] [Illustration: ERVILLERS, WHERE THE 1/10 BN. MANCHESTER REGT. REPULSED EIGHT ATTACKS.] [Illustration: SAPIGNIES, THE SCENE OF HEAVY FIGHTING FOR 125TH BRIGADE.] [Illustration: LT.-COL. P. V. HOLBERTON (THE MANCHESTER REGT.) COMMANDING 1/5 BN. LANCASHIRE FUSILIERS. KILLED IN ACTION. (_From a snapshot_)] [Illustration: ACHIET-LE-GRAND. THE RAILWAY CUTTING.] [Illustration: ACHIET-LE-GRAND. THE RAILWAY EMBANKMENT.] [Illustration: ESSARTS. DUG OUT USED AS BRIGADE HQRS. DURING FIGHTING BETWEEN MARCH 28 AND APRIL 7.] [Illustration: BUCQUOY CROSS ROADS: THE SCENE OF SEVERE HAND-TO-HAND FIGHTING ON APRIL 5, 1918, BY THE 125TH BRIGADE.]