The Australian Brigade had advanced through the Composite Brigade, and,
in spite of heavy losses from shrapnel, machine-gun, and rifle fire,
had progressed from 300 to 400 yards.
The determined valour shown by these two brigades, the New Zealand
Brigade, under Brigadier-General F. E. Johnston, and the 2nd Australian
Infantry Brigade, under Brigadier-General the Hon. J. W. McCay, are
worthy of particular praise. Their losses were correspondingly heavy,
but in spite of fierce counter-attacks by numerous fresh troops they
stuck to what they had won with admirable tenacity.
On the extreme left the 87th Brigade, under Major-General W. R.
Marshall, made a final and especially gallant effort to advance across
the smooth, bullet-swept area between the ravine and the sea, but once
more the enemy machine-guns thinned the ranks of the leading companies
of the South Wales Borderers, and again there was nothing for it but to
give ground. But when night closed in the men of the 87th Brigade of
their own accord asked to be led forward, and achieved progress to the
extent of just about 200 yards. During the darkness the British troops
everywhere entrenched themselves on the line gained.
On the right the French column, last seen as it grew dark, had stormed
and still held the redoubt round which the fighting had centred until
then. Both General d'Amade and General Simonin had been present
in person with this detachment and had rallied the Senegalese and
encouraged the white troops in their exploit. With their bayonets these
brave fellows of the 8th Colonials had inflicted exceedingly heavy
losses upon the enemy.