 Following a four @-@ day reprieve away from the frontline , the 12th Battalion relieved the 9th Battalion at Lagnicourt on 14 April . Around dawn the following day , the Germans launched a fierce counter @-@ attack against the 1st Australian Division 's line . Breaking through the Australian line , the Germans forced back the 12th Battalion 's D Company , which was to the left of Newland 's A Company . Soon surrounded and under attack on three sides , Newland withdrew the company to a sunken road which had been held by Captain Percy Cherry during the capture of the village three weeks earlier , and lined the depleted company out in a defensive position on both banks . Establishing his platoon in position , Whittle noticed a group of Germans moving a machine gun into position to enfilade the road . As the gunners began to set up the weapon , Whittle , under heavy rifle fire , jumped from the road and single @-@ handedly rushed the crew . Using his bombs , he succeeded in killing the entire group before collecting the gun and taking it back to A Company 's position . 
