SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 21 OCTOBER, 1918, 12443

South of the Portuguese sector, the 55th blown up, though, as had been the case in the Division was heavily attacked on its whole Somme battle, in some instances their destruc- front, and by 10.30 a.m., its left brigade had tion was incomplete. been forced back from its outpost line. The main line of resistance was intact and a defen- The Grossing at Bac St. Maur. sive flank was formed facing north between (52) East of Sailly-sur-la-Lys "the enemy had Festubert and a strong point just south of Le followed closely the troops of the 40th Division Touret, where touch was established later with wiho had crossed at Bac St. Maur and, though troops of the 51st Division. here also the bridge had been blown up, at Throughout the remainder of the day, the about 3 p.m., succeeded in passing small parties 55th Division maintained its positions against all assaults and by successful counter-attacks across .the river by an emergency bridge under captured over 750 prisoners. The success of cover of machine-gun fire. During the re- this most gallant defence, the importance of mainder of the afternoon and evening the which it would be hard to over-estimate, was strength of his forces north of tthe river steadily due in great measure to the courage and deter- increased, and pushing northwards they mination displayed by our advanced posts. reached Croix du Bac. At this point they were These held out with the utmost resolution counter-attacked early in the night by a bri- though surrounded, pinning to the ground those gade of the 25tfh Division, and pressed back. parties of the enemy who had penetrated our Our troops were unable, Jiowever, to clear the defences, and preventing them from developing German infantry completely from the village, their attack. Among the many gallant deeds and during the night the enemy established recorded of them, one instance is known of a himself firmly on the north bank of the river. machine gun which was kept in action although The Struggle for Estaires. the German infantry had entered the rear com- partment of the " pill-box " from which it was (53) Early in the morning of the 10th April, firing, the gun team holding up the enemy by the enemy launched heavy attacks covered by revolver fire from the inner compartment. artillery fire about the river crossings at Les- To the north the positions held by the 55th trem and Estaires, and succeeded in reaching Division, the weight and impetus of the German the left bank at both places; but in each case attack overwhelmed the Portuguese troops, and he was driven back again by determined the enemy's progress was so rapid that the coutater-iaftitacks by the 50th Division. • arrangements for manning the rear defences of The enemy continued to exercise great pres- this sector with British troops could scarcely be sure at Estaires, and fierce street fighting took completed in time. place, in which both sides lost heavily. Machine The 1st King Edward's Horse and the llth guns, mounted by our troops in the upper Cyclist Battalion, indeed, occupied Lacouture, rooms of houses, did great execution on has Vieille Chapelle and Huit Maisons, and by troops as they moved up to the attack, until their splendid defence of those places enabled the machine guns were knocked out by artil- troops of the 51st and 50th Divisions to come lery fire. In the evening the German infantry into action east of the Lawe River between Le> once more forced their way into Estaires, and Touret and Estaires. East of Estaires our after a most gallant resistance the 50th Divi- troops found the enemy already in possession of sion withdrew at nighitfall to a prepared posi- the right bank of the river, and touch between tion to the north and west of the town. the 50th and 40th Divisions could not be estab- East of Estaires the enemy had already lished. After heavy fighting the right of the crossed the Lys in strength, with artillery in 40th Division was forced back upon the Lys, close support of his infantry, and by the even- and early in the afternoon withdrew across the injg had pressed back our troops to a position river at Bac St. Maur. nonbh of Steen-werok. Thereafter, the arrival The remainder of the 40th Division, rein- of British reinforcement® for the time1 being forced by troops of the 34th Division, estab- held up his advance. lished themselves in a position covering the approaches to Erquinghem and Armentieres, The Attack at Messines. between Fort Rompu on the Lys and our old (54) Meanwhile, after an intense bombard- front line north-east of Bois Grenier. Here ment of ouir front and support lines and bat- they successfully maintained themselves, tery areas between Frelinghien and Hill 60. although the line was not readily defensible strong hostile attacks had developed at about and was constantly attacked. In this fighting 5.30 a.m. in this sector also. very gallant service was rendered by the 12th The outpost positions of the 25th and 19th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment, 40th Division, Divisions in line north of Armentieres and who held out in Fleurbaix until the evening, east of Messines were driven in, and during though heavily attacked on three sides. the morning the enemy worked his way for- During the afternoon troops of the 51st and ward under cover of mist along the valleys of 50th Divisions (chiefly composed of drafts hur- the Warnave and Douve Rivers, on the flanks riedly sent up to join their regiments) were of our .positions in Ploegsteert Wood and Mes- heavily engaged east of the Lawe River and sin'es. By midday he had gained Ploegsteert were gradually pressed back upon the river Village, together with the south-eastern por- crossings. The enemy brought up guns to close tions of Ploegsteert Wood, and had captured range and in the evening crossed at Estaires Messines. North of that village1 the area of and Pont Riqueul, but in both cases was driven attack extended during the afternoon as far ah back by counter-attacks. At the end of the the north bank of the Ypres—Oomines Canal. day the bridgeheads were still held by us as far In tihis new sector the enemy carried our for- east as Sailly-sur-la-Lys. ward positions as far as Hollefoeke, pushing In the course of the night our troops at back our line to the crest of the Wytschaete Estaires and in the sector to the south were Ridge. withdrawn to the left bank of the Lawe and Messines .was retaken early in the afternoon Lys Rivers, after sharp fighting about Pont by the South African Brigade, 9th Division. The bridges across both rivers were During the night this division cleared