[Illustration: GOMMECOURT WOOD, LOOKING TOWARDS HANNESCAMPS.] [Illustration: JULIUS POINT, LOOKING TOWARDS PIGEON WOOD.] The boundaries between the 4th and 6th Corps had been continually changing. This caused much alteration of wagon-lines, rear headquarters, etc., and the difficulties were not lessened by such alarmist rumours from the rear as that the enemy had broken through into the Ayette Valley to the north, and as there was a right-angle bend in the British line south of Bucquoy, on the right of the Division’s front, this would mean that both flanks of the Division were enveloped. The rumour was denied by the 126th Brigade, who stated that they were in touch with the 4th Guards Brigade, 31st Division. Patrols sent out to Ayette and Le Quesnoy Farm found that the line on the left of the Division had not been penetrated, and at 2 a.m. on the 28th the 126th Brigade and the 4th Guards Brigade reported the position satisfactory, the Guards Division having extended to its right and joined up with the 4th Guards Brigade, thus closing the gap. Two companies of the 125th were sent to reinforce the 126th. The trenches now taken over by the Division were as bad as they could possibly be, having been disused for years. They were, moreover, open to fire on three sides, and as rain had been falling for some time, and showed no sign of stopping, they were knee-deep in mud and water. [Sidenote: _March 28_] At 8.15 a.m. on the 28th after a heavy bombardment of the divisional front, an enemy attack developed from the direction of Ablainzevelle, and was broken up by rifle, machine-gun, and Lewis-gun fire. A second attack at 10.15 a.m., the enemy advancing in three waves from Logeast Wood, was repulsed, chiefly by infantry fire. An hour later large parties from the same direction were met in the open and driven back, except at one point where the enemy obtained a footing in our lines. The 6th and 8th Manchesters at once counter-attacked with the bayonet, and all Germans who had entered our lines were killed or captured. At 1.30 p.m. a bombing attack was made against the left of the 127th Brigade. The 6th Manchesters again counter-attacked and captured two machine-guns and an officer. While one of the hottest attacks of the day was in progress Corporal A. Brooks, 6th Manchesters, noticed that his men were short of rifle-oil and that the bolts of the rifles, from incessant use, were not working freely. In the face of the enemy machine-guns and rifles the corporal calmly moved along the line of his platoon with an oil-can, personally oiled the bolts—and survived. At 7.10 p.m. concentrated machine-gun fire inflicted heavy losses on the enemy assembling in Nissen huts between Ablainzevelle and Logeast Wood.