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162 of the river-obstacles surmounted without too much delay, and the Artillery enabled to dash forward, make up for lost time, and cover the advance of their respective Infantry Brigades.

In the meantime, the site of the old bridge at Catillon had been reconnoitred, and the gap partially filled with fascines, sandbags, and débris. The Canal was thus made passable for Infantry, who could cross with no further in- convenience than wet feet. Motor-cyclist despatch riders were also able to cross, volunteers carrying their machines over, but all other transport had to be directed via Bois de l'Abbaye until the 6th, by which date the Corps Engineers had completed a bridge for lorry traffic.

On the morning of the 6th November, the 139th Brigade advanced under a comparatively light barrage and, when an advance of 1,000 yards had been made, the enemy abandoned his positions and little more resistance was experienced during the day. Both Brigades reached their objectives without difficulty, the speed of their advance being limited only by the necessity of keeping them in signal touch with Division and supplied with rations and ammunition.

The leading battalion of the 139th Brigade, the 5th Sherwoods, had spread outwards on either side to envelop Prisches, while one company of the 8th Sherwoods was detailed to mop up the village itself. This battle was in marked contrast to everything that had gone before it. To the initiated, who knew that in a few minutes a barrage would open up, it was an extraordinary sensation to see the old men and women of the village and the farmhouses about, moving their household effects peacefully in wheelbarrows and odds and ends of carts up and down the road between Battalion Headquarters and the gun-positions. As the barrage opened, civilians appeared in crowds from