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.

While the other companies of the 14th Worcestershire had been engaged east of Courcelette, "C" Company, commanded by Captain A. P. Watkins, had been ordered back by the 190th Brigade from Courcelette to Mouquet Farm. There the Pioneer Company entrenched themselves on the 'right flank of the Brigade. That position was held until the remnant of the 188th Brigade had fallen back from Courcelette; then orders were given for a further general withdrawal to the line of the Thiepval Spur. The company went down across the valley to Thiepval, marching steadily: the only unit of the whole Division which was still in good order. On the eastern side of Thiepval the company deployed, but almost at once a message was signalled back that the enemy were breaking through the centre of the line in front. The Pioneer company was ordered forward to fill the gap. The company was about to advance, when Captain Watkins saw a force of the enemy pouring forward over the skyline on to the undefended left flank of the Brigade. The previous order was cancelled, and the Brigade-Major of the 190th Brigade led "C" Company to guard the threatened flank. Captain Watkins deployed his platoons amid a tangle of old trenches and shell-hales (practically the site of "Hessian Trench," held by the 3rd Battalion in October 1916) and for some time held back the enemy. But the attack was in too great force to be denied. In face of overwhelming numbers the Pioneers gradually withdrew, a platoon at a time covered by the fire of the rest. Captain Watkins was badly wounded but continued to direct the withdrawal so long as his strength remained, helped along by his men, who fell back in good order to the ruins of Thiepval (during the retirement of the platoons very gallant work was done by the two surviving subalterns, Lieuts. J. Hackett and E. H. Schofield. Captain Watkins was afterwards awarded the M.C.). There a fresh defensive line had been established by the other troop of the Division. The Pioneers passed through the village, made their way down the slope, and rejoined the remnants of the other companies of the Battalion in Thiepval Wood.

The enemy's pursuit died down, and the three Brigades of the 63rd Division were able to reorganise. Eventually the 189th Brigade, with "B" Company of the Pioneers, were left in Thiepval Wood, while the front line above the wood was held by the 188th and 190th Brigades, to which were attached "A" and "C" Companies of the Pioneer Battalion. Although the enemy's infantry did not advance, the German guns bombarded the Thiepval position, and before the day was out Major Rowe had been wounded. The command of the 14th Worcestershire then passed to Captain Maben (casualties, 14th Worcestershire March 25th. Killed 3. Wounded and missing, Lt.-Col. A. Caldier Ladd, Capt. J. R. Blake, 2/Lt. H. N. Brearley and 14 men. Missing, 20 N.C.O's. and men. Wounded, Major D. N. Rowe, Capt. A. P. Watkins, 2/Lt. W. M. Bowie, 2/Lt. H. W. Woods and 45 N.C.O's. and men. Total casualties 14th Worcestershire during March were 25 officers and 354 other ranks). That night came orders (received by 14tn Worcestershire at 3.0 a.m.) for the 63rd Division to withdraw across the River Ancre to the slopes on the western bank. In darkness the troops filed down through the tree-stumps of Thiepval Wood and across the marshy river to the ridge about Mesnil. Orders were then received for "A" and "C" Companies of the Pioneers to move back to Martinsart.

That was the last which the Pioneers were to see of the great German offensive. For the next two days the 14th Worcestershire remained in reserve at Englebelmer, while the enemy made unsuccessful efforts to drive the 12th and 63rd Divisions from their positions along the Ancre. Then the enemy's effort died away. After March 28th there were no further attacks, and that afternoon the Pioneer Battalion was ordered back, first to Mailly-Maillet and then to Forceville. There they remained for a time, busily engaged on the construction of reserve lines of defence.