leave the buildings intact, to be dealt with by the tanks. Finally the field artillery brought down a protective barrage behind the final objectives on the Brown Line. III Corps' initial attack was an outstanding success, but progress on 21 November was less impressive. From the third day of the offensive, as the British ground their way into Bourlon Wood, CCXXXII AFA Bde switched to 29th Division. This formation had attacked on 20 November and was still in the line when the Germans launched a counter-offensive on 30 November. Located in the Couillet Wood valley, XVII Brigade and CCXXXII RFA Bdes assisted 86th Infantry Bde with rapid fire from four batteries, but the other battery positions were menaced by the large numbers of German infantry advancing towards Marcoing after breaking through 20th (Light) Division's positions. One of CCXXXIII's batteries was overrun, the gun detachments withdrawing at the last moment, taking the guns' breechblocks and sights with them. 29th Division was engaged in a desperate fight for Masnières and then for Marcoing. The RA historian records that the two brigades 'fired incessantly in support of the hard pressed 20th (Light) Division ... During this day alone the guns of 29th Division fired 11,500 rounds of 18-pounder and 2,500 rounds of 4.5-inch ammunition. The guns had, in many cases almost unaided, stopped the enemy advance, and where he tried to get on they cut him to pieces'. The confused fighting continued on 1 December, with the remaining 11 guns of CCXXXIII Bde supporting 29th Division as it swung back to cover the positions on the St Quentin Canal. The divisional artillery commander withdrew the forward batteries of XVII and CCXXXII Bdes from south of Marcoing half way back to Ribécourt-la-Tour. 6th Division came up in support of 29th Division as the Germans renewed their attacks on 3 December, and the two RFA brigades continued firing to support it as the retreat to Marcoing was completed. At the end of the battle the British had been pushed back more or less to their starting line. Spring Offensive In mid-December, CCXXXII AFA Bde was transferred to V Corps, with which it remained during the winter. It was rested from 23 January to 24 February 1918, then joined 61st (2nd South Midland) Division in XVIII Corps, Fifth Army. It was still with this division when the German spring offensive opened on 21 March (the Battle