Commanders, rode forward to get into touch with the Headquarters of the battalion they were to relieve. After riding about for several hours, during which they had frequently to go to ground to avoid hostile machine-gun fire, they were reluctantly obliged to give up their quest and ride back to obtain more exact information. Battalion Headquarters, situated as described above, was then located, touch was gained with it, and provisional arrangements for the relief were made. The actual handing over, however, was not carried out for some hours, owing to the rough-and-tumble fighting on the outskirts of the wood, the Leicesters being pinned to their positions and unable either to advance or to retreat. Communication between the companies of the relieving battalions was established by means of the Lucas lamp and, at 9.30 a.m., the Staffordshire men advanced with two companies in the line, one in support and one in reserve. The right company in the line was ordered to move to the south-west edge of the wood and the left company was given orders to advance towards Fontaine de Colombier, on the Bohain-Andigny Road. Both companies deployed and advanced and, at 10.30 a.m., touch was established with the enemy. The attack was held up by machine-gun fire from all along the edge of the wood, the support company at the same time coming under machine-gun fire from Retheuil Farm, to the south of the wood. By this time the relief of the platoons of the left company of the 1/5th Leicesters had been carried out and touch established with the 6th Division on our left flank, but the Headquarters and the right company of the Leicesters were still isolated in the south-west outskirts of the wood and hard pressed by the enemy. At 2.25 p.m., therefore, the Staffords were ordered to attack the trench system
