 In early October , they undertook a number of small scale raids on the German line , capturing a number of prisoners , before they were withdrawn from the line on 27 October and transferred back to the Somme where they subsequently took part in two unsuccessful attacks against German positions east of Flers . In January 1917 , the 7th Brigade moved into the Le Sars sector where they took over from British units that were holding the line near Mametz . Offensive operations during this time were largely curtailed by bad weather , but on 2 March the battalions of the 5th and 7th Brigades launched a combined attack north of Warlencourt . The initial assault yielded some ground , but the Germans completed a successful outflanking move on the left , which threatened to take the momentum out of the attack . As reinforcements were brought up , the 27th Battalion linked up with the 26th Battalion on its left flank near the Loupart Road and , under the cover of mist , managed to establish a new trench line 500 yards ( 460 m ) long and captured a number of prisoners . 
