Page:Breaking the Hindenburg Line.djvu/181

Rh held by the 1st Brigade of the 1st Division, from Andigny northwards.

Later in the day, the whole front was taken over by the 137th Infantry Brigade, who were able to side-slip to the left, to a certain extent, as the French worked their way up and completed the capture of the outskirts of Mennevret. The relieved Brigades then withdrew into Divisional Reserve about Regnicourt, Guyot Farm, and Vallée Hasard.

The Battle of Andigny, complete success as it was, bears no comparison to Bellenglise and Ramicourt as regards the toll of prisoners taken from the enemy. Some hundreds were captured, it is true, but owing to the thick mist that prevailed, the greater portion of the two battalions who formed the garrison of Riquerval Wood managed to slip through our fingers and rejoin the main body of their comrades on the new line they had taken up. The Division was thus robbed of the visible reward of its labours, but, as against this, the men rested on their final objectives and the enemy, especially in the abortive counter-attack towards the end of the day, had left a heavy toll of dead behind him. It was no small feat to have driven him out of such strong positions, and all ranks went into reserve for a well-earned rest, feeling that the enemy had been repaid in good measure for the trouble he had caused during the frontal assault on the Riquerval Wood.

On the following day, the 137th Brigade were ordered to keep touch with the 126th French Division on their right and the 1st Division on their left. For this purpose, one troop of Scots Greys and one platoon of Cyclists were placed at the disposal of the Brigadier. The function of these troops was to scout forward through the forest, feeling their way cautiously and mopping up as they