On the 1st December the Battalion were in immediate support to the remains of the 166th Brigade, on the left of the Divisional front. The line held was as follows: From Fallen Tree Road on the right to Fourteen Willows Road and thence to Epehy—Villers Guislain Road on the left. During the early morning a party of the 5th King’s Own and 10th Liverpool Scottish, who had been surrounded in Limerick Post for nearly twenty-four hours, fought their way out and regained our lines. This party reinforced the front line and enabled closer touch to be gained with the 5th Lancashire Fusiliers on our left. At 6 a.m. an attack was due to commence by Tanks and Cavalry, with the intention of re-taking Villers Guislain, but no action was observed, although the artillery activity on the left increased considerably. At 9 a.m. however an attack by cavalry commenced. Two Squadrons advanced along the Epehy—Villers Guislain road and attempted to attack in the direction of Villers Guislain, but they were so badly cut up by artillery fire and Machine Guns that they withdrew to Epehy. Cavalry also attacked from Little Priel Farm on the right, and managed to make progress. One Squadron attempted to approach Villers Guislain by pushing along the valley from Little Priel Farm, but were met with heavy machine gun fire from Parr’s Bank, and although they held on to a forward position near Fourteen Willows Road for some time, they suffered heavy casualties, and were ultimately forced to withdraw.

The enemy made no further attempt to attack the Brigade front, devoting his efforts to consolidating the ground gained, but his artillery, Machine Guns and snipers were very active all morning. At 1 p.m. we launched a counter-attack with the intention of re-taking Meath, Kildare and Limerick Posts, and making these posts a line of resistance. About 200 of the 5th King’s Own, 10th Liverpool Scottish and 5th Loyals, together with 2 Squadrons of Indian Cavalry, constituted the attacking force. Inadequate Artillery support, and heavy enemy Machine Gun fire were mainly responsible for the failure of the attack, and the survivors returned to our front line, having suffered severely. During the attack “A” Company moved up from immediate support to the front line, S. of Fourteen Willows Road.

At 4.30 p.m. enemy Artillery became very active, Battalion Headquarters in Fourteen Willows Road, our front line and support line to the right of the Epehy—Villers Guislain Road, were heavily shelled for about half an hour. As evening drew near, however, conditions became normal. The 8th Liverpool Irish advanced on the left of Epehy—Villers Guislain Road in support of the 4th Loyals, and eventually gained touch with the left flank of the 166th Brigade on the right of Epehy—Villers Guislain Road. The 166th Infantry Brigade, including the 4th King’s Own, were relieved during the night by the 110th Infantry Brigade, 21st Division, and went into billets in St. Emilie, the relief being completed at 1.30 a.m. on the 2nd December, and all Companies had arrived in billets by 3.30 a.m. The day was spent in resting and cleaning equipment and clothes, but we were again under orders to be ready to move at half an hour’s notice. Reserves of ammunition, grenades, tools and rations were brought up to establishment.

At 4 p.m. on the 4th December orders were received for the Battalion to move up to Sandbag Alley to reinforce the Reserves of the 165th Brigade. Companies moved off independently and all were safely in dugouts by 8 p.m. In anticipation of an imminent enemy attack we “stood to,” “C” and “D” Companies manning Queen’s Trench, and “A” and “B” Companies remaining in Sandbag Alley. All being quiet on the Brigade front Companies stood down at 7.30 a.m. At midnight on the 5th the 165th Brigade including the 4th King’s Own, were relieved by the 48th Infantry Brigade, 16th Division. On completion Companies marched independently to St. Emilie. Accommodation was exceedingly scarce, and the whole Battalion were crowded into one Adrian Hut. The weather was very cold, dry and frosty. At 5.30 a.m. on the 6th we were called on to man the Brown Line as Reserves to the 48th Infantry Brigade, in case of attack. After considerable difficulty this was completed, but the morning proved exceptionally quiet, and the Battalion was ordered by Division to return to billets in St. Emilie.

At 1 p.m. verbal orders were received from Colonel Eden, A.A. and Q.M.G., that the Battalion would be relieved that day, and were to proceed to Longavesnes. Accordingly at 2 p.m. we marched to the Transport Lines at Villers Faucon and had tea. At 5 p.m., accompanied by the Band, the Battalion marched into Longavesnes, and proceeded thence by bus to Peronne, which was reached at 7.15, and by 8 p.m. the whole Battalion had reached the Camp. The whole of the 7th was spent in resting and making preparations for continuing the move. The weather turned wet in the evening. At 10 a.m. on the 8th following the 8th Liverpool Irish and 5th Lancashire Fusiliers, we marched to Peronne-Flamicourt Station and entrained, leaving at 12 noon for Beaumetz-les-Loges. On arrival at 9.30 p.m. we formed up behind the 8th Liverpool Irish and marched into billets at Lattre St. Quentin at 2 a.m. on the 9th after a tiring march in the rain. The route travelled was via Simoncourt—Wanquentin—Hauteville—Lattre St. Quentin. The remainder of the day was spent in resting and cleaning up, rain falling almost the whole day. The Transport, which had marched all the way from Peronne, halting for the night of the 8th/9th at Courcelles, arriving at 6 p.m.

On the 10th at 9 a.m. the Battalion was again on the march, moving via Avesnes le Comte—Manin—Givenchy le Noble—Penin—Tinques, arriving in billets in Bailleul-aux-Cornailles at 2 p.m., the weather being fine but cold. The following day at 10.30 a.m. the march was resumed via Monchy—Breton (where we marched past the Brigadier-General Commanding 164th Infantry Brigade)—La Thieuloye—Valhuon Hestrus to Eps, where billets were reached at 3 p.m., the weather being fine. On the 12th at 10 a.m. the Battalion marched to Crepy via Petit Anvin, billets being reached at 12 noon. At 10.30 a.m. on the 13th, we made what was to be the last of this series of marches moving via Fruges—Monteville—Radhinghem—Wandonne and Dennebroccq to Reclinghem where we arrived in billets at 3.25 p.m. The weather continued warm and bright.

After the hard fighting and strenuous exercises of the past few months, the long period of rest in Reclinghem which followed was not unacceptable. Freed from trench worries for the time being, leisurely but thorough attention could be paid to reorganization, platoon and company training, and this was the general routine now followed. The Brigade Baths at Coyecque also received a full measure of patronage. The weather turned cold, with leaden skies threatening snow, and this duly arrived to give a traditional setting to Christmas Day. This was our third Christmas in France and Belgium, and as the previous two had been spent in the trenches at Authuille and Ypres respectively, special efforts were made on this occasion to mark this genial festival in a more fitting manner. A very pleasant day was spent, and one that lingers in the memory. There was a Voluntary Church Parade in the morning, which took place in the School at Reclinghem, and at 3.30 p.m. the Brigadier-General Commanding, accompanied by the Commanding Officer, visited all the Companies in turn at dinner. The Sergeants, after attending to the men’s needs, had their dinner at 5.30 p.m., and they also received a visit from the Commanding Officer, when the usual compliments of the season were exchanged. All Officers dined together in the Headquarters Mess at 7.30 p.m., when the Battalion Band was in attendance, and rendered an appropriate programme in a pleasing manner. Altogether a memorable day.

New Year’s Day, 1918, was observed, by order of the Brigadier, as a holiday from all parades, except for short inspection parades in the morning. Sports were indulged in during the day, but the weather conditions were too severe to admit of organized games. News was received that the Brigadier-General Commanding (General Stockwell) had been awarded the C.M.G., and a congratulatory message was sent from the Colonel and all Officers. In spite of the adverse weather, which necessitated much clearing of snow, training was persevered with, and on the 19th January the First Army Commander, General Sir H. S. Horne, inspected the 164th Infantry Brigade Group on the parade ground of the 5th Lancashire Fusiliers, at Coyecque. He took the opportunity of presenting medal ribands awarded to various members of the Battalion, Officers, N.C.O.s and men. The massed Brigade Buglers, under Corporal Parry of the 4th King’s Own, sounded the General Salute. The Battalion Band played during the Inspection, and, as the various units marched past, played the “March Past” of each Unit. The Army Commander, in his address, referred to the fight at Gueudecourt on September 27th, 1916, on which occasion the 164th Brigade was last under his Command—as Commander of the XIV Corps. He complimented the Brigade on its fine turnout, and steadiness on parade.