Lives of the First World War

The following morning the 22nd of March, again dawned shrouded in mist. South of Roupy part of the 36th Division's front had been pulled back To conform with 111 Corps withdrawal towards the Crozat canal. At 8.00 am the Germans were again seen massing for an attack. At 9.00 am a heavy bombardment was launched all along the front between Savy and Roupy but by noon following the fog's gradual clearing mid - way through the morning, the infantry attack was broken up by the concentrated machine gun fire brought to bear on the waves of German soldiers. Throughout the afternoon further German attacks in strength continued to be pressed against the 17th Manchester's positions, which still held firm. However at 4.00 pm the Germans again attacked the front companies and this time broke through towards Goodman Redoubt. B, D and C Companies were overrun and surrounded, any many of the surviving men taken prisoner. In the early evening at about 6.20 pm, with many dead and all ammunition expended after close fighting within their trenches. In both the 16th and 17th Battalions cases these actions during the last ten days of March 1918 saw the virtual extinction of both Battalions.

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