▁in ▁front ▁of ▁Am iens . ▁Although ▁it ▁received ▁some ▁draft s ▁of ▁rec ruits ▁from ▁home ▁and ▁revert ed ▁to ▁a ▁four - company ▁organisation , ▁it ▁was ▁never ▁made ▁up ▁to ▁full ▁strength . ▁During ▁its ▁spell ▁in ▁the ▁line ▁it ▁was ▁designated ▁a ▁counter - att ack ▁batt alion , ▁and ▁carried ▁out ▁a ▁number ▁of ▁pat rol s ▁into ▁No ▁man ' s ▁land ▁to ▁train ▁the ▁young ▁soldiers . ▁At ▁this ▁period ▁the ▁ 1 9 1 8 ▁flu ▁pan demic ▁caused ▁more ▁cas ual ties ▁than ▁the ▁Germ ans , ▁with ▁ 4 2 7 ▁members ▁of ▁the ▁batt alion ▁hospital ised ▁at ▁some ▁point ▁in ▁June ▁and ▁July . ▁ ▁Ch ip illy ▁ ▁For ▁the ▁opening ▁attack ▁of ▁the ▁H undred ▁Days ▁Off ensive ▁( the ▁Battle ▁of ▁Am iens ) ▁on ▁ 8 ▁August ▁ 1 9 1 8 , ▁ 1 7 4 th ▁B de ▁was ▁given ▁the ▁initial ▁objective ▁of ▁capt uring ▁Mal ard ▁Wood , ▁after ▁which ▁ 1 7 3 rd ▁B de ▁would ▁pass ▁through ▁to ▁take ▁the ▁vital ▁Ch ip illy ▁R idge ▁over looking ▁a ▁b end ▁in ▁the ▁River ▁Som me ▁and ▁fl ank ing ▁the ▁battle field . ▁ 2 / 4 th ▁B n ▁led ▁on ▁the ▁left ▁of ▁ 1 7 3 rd ▁B de ' s ▁advance ▁in ▁' art illery ▁formation ' ▁through ▁the ▁German ▁bar rage ▁that ▁fell ▁behind ▁ 1 7 4 th ▁B de , ▁during ▁which