▁in ▁the ▁afternoon ▁of ▁ 2 2 ▁March , ▁but ▁the ▁canal ▁was ▁held ▁until ▁night fall , ▁the ▁only ▁attacks ▁on ▁the ▁V ou el ▁Line ▁coming ▁from ▁German ▁art illery ▁r anged ▁in ▁by ▁spot ter ▁aircraft . ▁The ▁following ▁day , ▁the ▁V ou el ▁Line ▁( now ▁the ▁British ▁front ▁line ) ▁became ▁crow ded ▁with ▁French ▁troops ▁from ▁a ▁failed ▁counter - att ack ▁on ▁the ▁canal , ▁while ▁the ▁left ▁fl ank ▁was ▁' in ▁the ▁air ' ▁after ▁the ▁retre at ▁of ▁ 1 8 th ▁( E astern ) ▁Division . ▁The ▁position ▁became ▁un ten able ▁at ▁mid - day , ▁and ▁ 2 / 4 th ▁B n ▁and ▁the ▁French ▁troops ▁had ▁to ▁make ▁a ▁fighting ▁withdraw al ▁to ▁the ▁partly ▁d ug ▁Green ▁Line ▁about ▁ 1 5 0 0 ▁yards ▁back . ▁With ▁continued ▁pressure ▁on ▁the ▁open ▁left ▁fl ank , ▁ 1 7 3 rd ▁B de ▁was ▁forced ▁to ▁withdraw ▁again , ▁beyond ▁Vir y - N oure uil . ▁By ▁now ▁the ▁fighting ▁strength ▁of ▁ 2 / 4 th ▁Lond ons ▁was ▁about ▁ 1 2 0 ▁men , ▁who ▁came ▁under ▁the ▁command ▁of ▁ 8 th ▁Lond ons . ▁However , ▁the ▁batt alion ' s ▁second - in - command , ▁Major ▁Gro ver , ▁led ▁up ▁a ▁scratch ▁force ▁of ▁ 2 8 0 ▁cler ks , ▁cook s ▁and ▁drivers ▁from ▁the ▁brig ade ' s ▁rear ▁areas . ▁By