 On 8 April , the 12th Battalion was tasked with the capture of the village of Boursies . The attack was to act as a feint in order to mislead the German forces on the direction from which Hermies was to be assaulted . Whittle had been placed in command of the left platoon in Newland 's A Company for the attack , which commenced at 03 : 00 . Advancing , the company was subjected to heavy machine gun fire from a derelict mill approximately 400 metres ( 440 yd ) short of the village and began to suffer heavy casualties . Gathering a party of men , Newland led a bombing attack which was able to dislodge the Germans from the position and secure the area . Continuing their advance , the company was able to reach its objectives , where Whittle was placed in command of a post just beyond the mill . 
