The Division held the right of the battle line when the British attacked on 20th November, 1917 (the “Battle of Cambrai, 1917”)· In his telegraphic despatch of 21st November, Sir Douglas Haig said: “West Lancashire Territorials broke through positions about Epéhy.” This part of the attack was really a feint or holding attack, but it cost the Division heavy casualties. On 30th November the enemy made his great counter-attack with very strong forces. The Division held the southern part of the British line where it was attacked. The Divisional frontage was nearly eight miles, and as it was impossible to man a continuous line, it was held by posts. Another British division was on the right of the 55th but it was not seriously involved in the fighting on 20th and 30th November. The battle is described in paragraphs 9 and 10 of the despatch of 20th February, 1918. Paragraph 9 states: “From the Banteux ravine southwards the divisions in line were weak and held very extended fronts.” “In view of the symptoms of activity observed on the enemy’s front, special precautions were taken by local commanders, especially from Villers Guislain to the south.” The map opposite p. 163 of Messrs. Dent’s edition shows the latter portion to have been in the area of the 55th Division. Paragraph 10: “Between the hours of 7 and 8 a.m. on the last day of November, the enemy attacked, after a short but intense artillery preparation, on the greater part of a front of some ten miles, from Vendhuille” (on our right) “to Masnières” (on our left) “inclusive. From Masnières to Banteux, both inclusive, four German divisions would seem to have been employed against the three British divisions holding this area (29th, 20th and 12th).” The map above referred to shows these are from left to right. “Between Banteux exclusive and Vendhuille one German division and portions of two others were employed against the northern half of the British division holding that front (the 55th Division, Major-General H. S. Jeudwine).” “At the northern end of the Bonavis Ridge, and in the Gonnelieu sector[7] the swiftness with which the advance of the enemy’s infantry followed the opening of his bombardment appears to have overwhelmed our troops, both in line and in immediate support, almost before they had realised that the attack had begun.” “East of Villers Guislain[8] the troops holding our forward positions on the high ground were still offering a strenuous resistance to the enemy’s attack on their front, at a time when large forces of German infantry had already advanced up the valley between them and Villers Guislain. South of this village a single strong point known as Limerick Post, garrisoned by troops of the 1/5th Battalion (King’s Own), Royal Lancaster Regiment and the 1/10th Battalion, Liverpool Regiment (both of the 55th Division), held out with great gallantry throughout the day, although heavily attacked.