Taking advantage of the thick mist which still hung over the country, the enemy worked down the St Quentin Canal on the 22nd towards Happencourt. This threatened the right flank of the 60th Brigade. The 59th was therefore withdrawn from the rear zone defences between Vaux and Trefcon, leaving there only a skeleton force, and assembled in the Germaine--Foreste area, ready to launch a counter attack, if necessary, towards the south-east. But at 5.50 P.M. the enemy turned the left flank of the Corps north of Holnon Wood, driving back the 61st Division, which retired towards the Somme. To meet this new situation the 59th Brigade occupied a previously sited rearguard position between Douilly and Lanchy. The 60th Brigade was attacked after heavy shelling at 3.50 P.M. Although their front line was driven back for a short distance, all battalions withstood the attack until they were ordered to withdraw. The 6th K.S.L.I. (Lieut.-Colonel Welch) on the right made a fine stand west of Happencourt with the enemy on both flanks; two companies of the 12th R.B. (Lieut.-Colonel MacLachlan) in the centre were surrounded, but fought their way back; and the 12th K.R.R.C. (Lieut.-Colonel Moore) on the left were heavily engaged with the enemy, who penetrated through Vaux and Fluquières. “A” Company of the 12th K.R.R.C. was practically cut off, but gallantly held on. In front of this company there was a gap in the wire through which the Germans tried to force their way four times, but two Lewis guns so successfully covered the gap that all efforts failed. Eventually, when all officers and many N.C.O.’s had been wounded or killed, the company was forced to fall back. The pressure on the Corps front continued, and in view of the general situation the forward divisions were ordered to retire across the Somme during the night through the 59th and 60th Brigades, which after covering the withdrawal were to move back, fighting rearguard actions, to a position between Canizy and Béthencourt, and blow up all bridges on their front. At 8 P.M., before this movement was timed to take place, the enemy was reported to have broken through Vaux with a force of all arms, and the 20th Division was ordered to prolong the rearguard position held by the 59th Brigade to the right. The 60th Brigade accordingly occupied the line Bray--Douilly. Just before the troops moved back the Germans were heard advancing down a sunken road from Happencourt, singing for all they were worth. They had probably seen men of other divisions retiring and thought that the whole line had gone, and they were very much surprised and completely scattered when they suddenly came under Lewis gun fire from the 6th K.S.L.I.