Morning

Early in the morning of March 25th "A" Company and "B" Company had been called in to join Battalion Headquarters at Martinpuich, leaving "C" Company at Courcelette under the orders of the 190th Brigade.

On receipt of orders from the 188th Brigade, Lt.-Colonel Caldier Ladd took "A" and "B" Companies back from Martinpuich to the higher ground between that village and Courcelette. There the Pioneers hastily entrenched. On their left flank the line was prolonged by the reserve battalion of the 188th Brigade, the 1st Battalion Royal Marines. While the troops dug in, the Divisional R.E. (247th Field Company R.E.) blew up the few houses still standing in ruined Martinpuich. In the Ancre valley on the left flank; disordered troops could be seen streaming back, and presently over the ridge in front came retreating the two front-line battalions (2nd Battalion Royal Marines, and Anson Battalion) of the 188th Brigade. The retreating troops came down the slope to Martinpuich and then up to the position of the Pioneers, passed through them and rallied in rear. Behind them great masses of the pursuing enemy came forward over the skyline.

The enemy were pressing the pursuit with the utmost boldness, and companies and battalions in close formation could be seen advancing behind the leading waves. As soon as the first lines of the German infantry were within range, the thin line of Pioneers and Marines opened rapid fire, with rifles and Lewis-guns. The first line of the enemy was checked, but the supporting troops behind could be seen steadily advancing.

When the first onrush of the enemy had been checked, the Marine battalion was ordered back to a fresh position. The 14th Worcestershire covered their retirement and faced the enemy alone. On the right the Battalion's flank was unprotected ; on the left flank the advancing enemy were nearing Grandcourt; but the Pioneers held firm, taking good cover in the shell-holes which pitted the desolate battle-field and shooting rapidly whenever the enemy attempted to advance. For two hours the Battalion held up the enemy's attack. During that time Captain H. C. Maben was conspicuous by his bravery, reorganising and controlling the line under close and heavy fire (Captain Maben was awarded the D.S.O.): 2/Lieut. H. W. Woods, although wounded, remained in the front line, firing a Lewis-gun after all the gun-team had been hit, and inspiring his men to resist to the last (2/Lieut. Woods was awarded the M.C.).

Presently batteries of the enemy's field artillery came trotting forwards over the skyline east of Martinpuich, unlimbered in the open and commenced to bombard the defensive line. Casualties became heavy, Colonel Caldier Ladd (Colonel Caldier Ladd was severely wounded and was sent back on a stretcher. Unfortunately the stretcher party lost their way and were captured by the advancing enemy. Colonel Caldier Ladd died of his wounds) and many of his men were struck down, and at 2.30 p.m. Major D. N. Rowe, the sole surviving senior officer, decided that the remnant of the Battalion must retire if they were to avoid annihilation.

So effectively had the fire of the Pioneers checked the enemy that they were able to withdraw back over the ridge they had held, although the nearest of the enemy were within a hundred yards. The two companies made their way down into Courcelette and up across the shell-holes to the heights beyond (during the retirement from Courcelette Captain J. R. Blake and 2/Lt. H. N. Brearley were hit) near Mouquet Farm. There a new defensive position had been taken up by the 190th Brigade, together with "C" Company of the Pioneer Battalion.