with units of Australian Light Horse and New Zealand cyclists. The following day a rushed attack made considerable progress until the battalion ran into stiff resistance at the Aunelle river crossing at Sebourg. The battalion was in support for further attacks over the next few days, but was not involved in any more fighting before the Armistice came into force on 11 November. Demobilisation began in early 1919, and the battalion was reduced to a cadre of 50 men by mid-May. The cadre returned to England on 21 May and marched through London to Hoxton. Commanding officers The following officers commanded 1/4th Bn during World War I: Lt-Col G.P. Botterill, from mobilisation, wounded 26 April 1915 Maj L.T. Burnett, acting, 26 April to 16 June 1915 Lt-Col Leslie Burnett, OBE, promoted 16 June 1915, sick 19 January 1916 Maj W.J. Clarke, acting, 19 January to 23 March 1916 Lt-Col L.L. Wheatley, DSO (Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders), from 8 April, sick 11 October 1916 Lt-Col H.J. Duncan-Teape, 11 October 1916 to 17 March 1917 Lt-Col A.E. Maitland, MC (Essex Regiment), from 18 March, sick 12 April 1917 Lt-Col H. Campbell, DSO (13th Londons (Kensingtons)) from 12 April, wounded 14 August 1917 Lt-Col A.F. Marchment, DSO, MC (1st Londons), from 14 August 1917 to the Armistice 2/4th Battalion Within two weeks of formation, the 2/4th Bn had over 400 men and it moved from Hoxton to New Barnet on 23 September 1914 for training. Colonel Vickers Dunfee, who had retired from command of the 4th VB in 1908, returned as CO of the battalion. By 14 December it had grown to 27 officers and 986 other ranks, and joined the rest of 2/1st London Brigade at Maidstone. Here it was ordered at short notice to embark at Southampton on 23 December aboard HMT Avon bound for Malta to relieve the 1/4th Bn. The 2/4th disembarked on 2 January 1915 while the 1/4th went to the Western Front (see above). Malta 1915 While on Malta the 2/4th Bn continued training, guarded Prisoners of war (PoWs) and performed public duties. It was still regarded as a draft-finding unit for 1/4th Bn, and in July was under orders to send a draft of 400 men to the Western Front (to be replaced by 400 men from the 4/4th Bn at home). However, it was instead ordered to Egypt as a Service Battalion, embarking on HMT