As Fonquevillers had become a shell storm centre D.H.Q. was moved to St. Amand. During the night of the 28th March the Division took over 1500 yards of front on its right flank from the 62nd Division, and a Field Company R.E. was moved up in close support of each infantry brigade. The 123rd Brigade, 41st Division, was placed at the disposal of the Divisional Commander as a reserve. Within the space of forty-eight hours the enemy had made eight attacks upon the Division, but only on the one occasion had he entered our line, to be driven out immediately at the point of the bayonet. The number of effectives in the three infantry brigades and their condition were now reported as follows— 125th Brigade, 1017. Fairly fresh. 126th ” 1037. Much shelled, ready to fight, but cannot march. 127th ” 1100. Very weary. But in spite of weary bodies cheerfulness pervaded the Division, though most of the men could not understand why they had been ordered to withdraw on the 26th, after proving that they could do more than hold their own against Jerry. Open warfare of this sort was more to their taste than the monotonous trench warfare had been. “Simply topping fighting!” was an officer’s opinion. “Bit of change like, this ’ere, from the trenches,” observed one Wigan man to another after four days of hard fighting without sleep. After due consideration the other replied: “Aye, mate, this is a bit of aw reet; it favours a b⸺ picnic.” The sappers had been sent up in support, and though instructions had been given that they were not to be used in the front line, they made their way into it and even sent out patrols. They and the 7th Northumberland Fusiliers, who were also being used as front-line troops, captured prisoners. The battle surplus of battalions had been formed into a composite battalion, to be used as a fighting unit if required, but this was not found necessary, as the enemy’s progress was stayed. March 29 was a comparatively quiet day. The great German Offensive had been definitely checked on this part of the Third Army’s front by the determination and fighting qualities of all ranks and all arms. On the night of the 29th-30th the Division was relieved by the 41st Division and given a couple of days in the second-line trenches, in the Hébuterne—Gommecourt sector, with the exception of the 126th Brigade and “B” Company, M.G. Battalion, which remained at Essarts at the disposal of the G.O.C., 41st Division. The Divisional Artillery now occupied positions around Essarts, and there was no chance of even two days’ rest for them. [Sidenote: _Enemy Offensive Checked_]