Marching off at once, the whole force reached its position about dawn on the 12th. So promptly was the movement carried out that there was no time to issue rations, and the food had to follow on later in limbers. There was also a considerable shortage of tools, with the result that when daylight came the men were still very inadequately dug-in. In the 4th Battalion, No. 1 Company, under Captain H. Sloane-Stanley, was on the right, No. 4, under Lieutenant Green, in the centre, and No. 2, under Captain Pryce, on the left, with No. 3, under Lieutenant Nash, in support. As soon as it was light the enemy opened a heavy fire along the whole front with field-guns, while they swept with their lighter field-guns and machine-guns all places where they detected any movement. Battalion Headquarters seemed to come in for special attention, and, whenever any one went in or out, it was the signal for a shower of shells to fall round the spot. An order came to Brigadier-General Butler to secure the line from the College to Vieux Moulin with his brigade, and to prevent any movements along the Merville--Neuf Berquin road. He accordingly went up to Battalion Headquarters, and ordered an advance at 11 A.M. At the same time he sent up two companies of the Irish Guards to advance in échelon behind the right flank, in the hope of getting in touch with the Fiftieth Division. In the 4th Battalion Captain H. Sloane-Stanley was told to push forward two platoons to seize Vierhoek, and Captain Pryce to occupy Pont Rondin with a similar force. * * * * * The following were the officers who took part in the operations from April 12 to 14: Lieut.-Colonel W. S. Pilcher, D.S.O. Commanding Battalion. Capt. C. R. Gerard, D.S.O. Adjutant. Capt. M. Chapman, M.C. Intelligence Officer. Lieut. N. R. Abbey Attached B.H.Q. Capt. H. H. Sloane-Stanley, M.C. No. 1 Company. 2nd Lieut. H. Stratford " " 2nd Lieut. R. B. Osborne " " Capt. T. T. Pryce, M.C. No. 2 Company. Lieut. the Hon. C. C. S. Rodney " " 2nd Lieut. G. P. Philipps " " Lieut. C. S. Nash, M.C. No. 3 Company. Lieut. M. D. Thomas " " 2nd Lieut. P. H. Cox " " Lieut. G. R. Green No. 4 Company. 2nd Lieut. J. E. Greenwood " " 2nd Lieut. G. W. Sich " " Capt. N. Grellier, M.C., R.A.M.C. Medical Officer.