Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
The War Diary for today records. CHALONS VERGEUR. 1.00am. Enemy commenced heavy bombardment with gas and high explosive on D Camp. The Battalion fell in at 12.45pm and moved to dugouts and shelters in vicinity of camp as soon as bombardment commenced. A Company under Captain SCOTT M.C. had -?- move up to the TENAILLE DE GUISE east of CORMICY on the night of the 26th and arrived in position at midnight. 3.00am Gas shelling ceased but concentrations of gas did not clear until 5.00am. 4.00am TENAILLE DE GUISE heavily bombarded until 5.00am. 7.30am. B Company (Captain SCHOLES) moved forward to Brigade HQ in BOIS-DE-LA-MONTAGNE and proceeded thence to TRENCH DE ESTERNEY with right on OUVRAGE-DU-NORD and left on HIRSCH WOOD. 9.00am. D Company and Battalion HQ moved forward to Brigade HQ. A Company heavily attacked in TENAILLE DE GUISE but attack was beaten off by rifle and machine gun fire. 11.30am. C Company (Lt. STEVENS) moved forward and rejoined remainder of Battalion in vicinity of 110th Brigade HQ in BOIS-DE-MONTAGNE. 12.00 noon. TRENAILLE DE GUISE again heavily attacked. Enemy were repulsed frontally but succeeded in attacking posts on the right and left flanks which eventually forced the remnants of A Company under Lt. VERNALL to withdraw to TRENCH de ESTERNEY in front of CAUROY-CORMICY ROAD. 2.00pm. Battalion HQ moved to the TUILLERIE. D Company moved up to position near BOYAN DE GUISE extending right and left in front of CAUROY-CORMICY ROAD. Touch was gained with B Company on right but touch could not be obtained with A Company on left. Consequently there was a gap of over 1000 yards on the left. 2.30pm. C Company ordered forward to fill gap between A and D Companies keeping 1 platoon in reserve at Battalion HQ. Touch was obtained with D Company on right and 1 platoon deducted to form a defensive flank facing CORMICY. Repeated attempts were made to establish touch with troops holding CORMICY. 4.00pm. Enemy attacked the TRENCH DU ESTERNEY from HIRSCH to CAUROY. Attack was brought to a standstill by rifle and machine gun fire from about 150 yards from ESTERNEY. 5.00pm. Under cover of dead ground the enemy succeeded in establishing a footing in HIRSCH WOOD on the right flank of D Company. He attacked repeatedly from this direction between 5.00 and 7.00pm but was repulsed each time with heavy losses. 7.00pm. Reinforced by Trench Mortars, enemy proceeded in breaking the line of the right flank of D Company. Blocks were immediately established in the trenches and the enemy held up -?-. 7.30pm. Enemy threatening the left flank of C Company from direction of CORMICY. 8.00pm. Enemy working round the left rear of C Company and firing into them from -?-. Owing to situation on right flank of D Company. B Company formed a defensive flank along the BOYAN DU CHATILLON. 10.00pm. Enemy continued to work round flanks of B and D Companies in small parties under cover of darkness. Orders received from Brigade (GC 547 attached) to withdraw to the line ST. AUBOEUF-ROUCY RIDGE covered by rear guard. Withdrawal to commence at 10.00pm. 11.00pm. Companies ordered to withdraw and assemble at old Battalion HQ in BOIS MONTAGNE, C and D Companies had considerable difficulty in extricating themselves but managed to withdraw fighting a rear guard action.