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[Page 40]
26.3.18
3 am. Bde entrained at STEENBECQUE for the SOMME area. No. 1 train departed on time. Others following at 3 hour interval. Bde H.Q. on first train. Cold night. Train held up twice owing to enemy long range shelling of railway.
8.30 am. First train arrived at DOULLENS and was held up in railway yards till 11.45 am. Conference being held in Hotel de Ville, present :- General FOCH, General PETAIN, F.M. Sir Douglas HAIG, Mr LLOYD GEORGE and representatives of other allied armies. General FOCH appointed Generalissimo of the Allied Armies.
12 noon Major-General VAUGHAN M.G.G.S. 3rd Army, ordered the G.O.C. to send all available troops forward as advance guard to any other troops arriving later. Enemy broken through at GONNECOURT and advancing on DOULLENS. 9th Bde Group ordered to centre at PAS. Brig-Gen. ROSENTHAL arrived by car from PARIS leave and took over Brigade. One Company 33rd Battalion, 9th A.L.T.M. Bty, 9th A.M.G. Coy moved out in the direction of MONDICOURT, also Bde H.Q.
1 pm. Trains rather tangled. 9th and 11th Bdes forced to detrain at DOULLENS instead of MONDICOURT.
1.30 pm. 33rd Bn arrived at DOULLENS were orderd to follow on to MONDICOURT. Large numbers of disorganised troops, transports and guns retiring.
4.30 pm. News received that the 4th Aust .Div were concentrating near HEBUTURNE. Bde H.Q, established at MONDICOURT.
5 pm. 34th Bn less one Coy. arrived at MONDICOURT.
5.30 pm. Traffic and guide posts established on the main ARRAS road at MONDICOURT.
6 pm. 51st Scottish Div. moved through us and concentrated behind us at MONDICOURT.
Location of H.Q. at nightfall - MONDICOURT
Dispositions of the Bde at nightfall were as follows - Bde H.Q. MONDICOURT, with 9th A.L.T.M. Bty, 9th A.M.G. Coy, Sig. section. 2 Coys of 33rd Bn at PAS, 35th Bn near FAMECHON. Bivouaced outside Citadel, DOULLENS were 2 Coys of 33rd Bn, 1 Coy 34th Bn, 36th Bn, 9th Field Co. A.E. and 9th Field Ambulance. 3 Coys of the 34th Bn in the neighbourhood of MONDICOURT.
27.3.18
1.25 am. Orders for the Bde to embus for Somme Area.
4.45 am. Bde H.Q., Sig. Section, 9th A.L.T.M. Bty embussed at MONDICOURT.
5.30 am. 35th Bn less one Coy, 34th Bn less one Coy. 33rd Bn less one Coy and 9th M.G. Coy embussed near PAS.
7.45 am. Convoy moved of in a southerly direction.
11.30 am. Debussed the head of column at FRANVILLERS. Conference of Officers held. Div ordered to hold the line MERICOURT, SAILLY at all costs. 10th and 11th A.I.Bdes moving into position on this line.
Noon. Bde moved into position 300 yds west of HEILLY. Bde Staff and C.O's Units reconnoitred forward area.
4 pm. 2 Bns ordered to extend left of 10th A.I. Bde from RIBEMONT to D.20 joining up with 4th Aust. Div. 33rd and 34th Bn moved out.