Battalion halted at 5 a.m. near village of HAUCOURT. Half an hour after halting Battalion was shelled with shrapnel & at the same time the King’s Own and Lancs Fusiliers (12th Brigade) were surprised & came under heavy M. Gun Rifle & Shell & suffered heavily.
Battalion scattered & lay in ditch on road side. Battalion organised for counter attack. A & B front line, C & D Coys in support, and they were successful in driving Germans back, but we suffered heavily.
At 8.30 a.m. orders were received to retire to former position & received orders from Brig. General Haldane to hold on at all costs as 40,000 French were coming up on left.
About 2.30 p.m. German aeroplane passed over and gave position away & from this time onwards the Regt. were heavily engaged. About 7.30 p.m. orders were received to retire & every man for himself. The Regiment suffered heavy losses this day – Major Meiklejohn, Major Day, Capt. Besant, Lieut. Knight Bruce, Lieut. Constable wounded and took prisoners. Capt. Burnard wounded & 9 others killed & wounded. Total losses Rank & File 400.
Battalion was scattered about in small parties & retired as well as possible. On the march all night.