cut in the face of rifle and machine-gun fire, and in spite of all resistance and heavy losses the entire main enemy defensive line was captured.
Every Battalion in the Brigade carried out its task to the full.
The German Reserve Division, which includes the 238th, 239th, and 240th Regiments, and which opposed you for many weeks at Ypres, left the Salient on the 18th September. You have now met them in the open, a worthy foe, but you have filled their trenches with their dead and have driven them before you in headlong flight.
I cannot say how proud I am to have had the honour of commanding the 1st Guards Brigade in this battle, a Brigade which has proved itself to be the finest in the British Army.
The Brigade is now under orders for rest and training, and it must now be our object to keep up the high standard of efficiency, and those who have come to fill our depleted ranks will strive their utmost to fill worthily the place of those gallant officers and men who have laid down their lives for a great cause.
(Sd.) C. E. Pereira,
Brigadier-General,
Commanding 1st Guards Brigade.
September 28, 1916.
Lord Cavan had sent the following message to General
Pereira:
Hearty thanks and sincere congratulation to you all. A
very fine achievement splendidly executed.
To which the Brigadier had replied:
Your old Brigade very proud to be able to present you with
Lesbœufs. All ranks most gratified by your kind congratulations.
And so that little wave among many waves, which
had done its work and gained its few hundred yards
of ground up the beach, drew back into the ocean of
men and hutments below the slopes of the Somme.
The new drafts were naturally rather pleased with
themselves; their N.C.O.'s were reasonably satisfied
with them, and the remnant of the officers were far
