The 18th Infantry Brigade held on till 7 p.m.when, in trying to withdraw, it suffered heavy casualties.

The last company was not overwhelmed till 8.30 p.m.The 18th and 71st Infantry Brigades, therefore, maintained their hold on the ground Lagnicourt and the Morchies Valley all day, though the enemy had penetrated far in rear on both flanks.
When darkness fell the remnants of the Division were back in the corps line, together with three battalions of the 75th Infantry Brigade (25th Division), the remaining troops of the Division not being strong enough to hold the line unaided.

The 11th Cheshires were with 18th Infantry Brigade, 2nd South Lancs with 71st Infantry Brigade, and 8th Border Regiment with 16th Infantry Brigade.
The night was quiet, both sides preparing for the next day's struggle.
At 7.30 a.m.on 22nd March the 16th Infantry Brigade repulsed an attack, but the enemy renewed his efforts with great persistence, and with much heavy bombardment and trench-mortaring, at 9.30 a.m.

and onwards in the vicinity of Vaux and Mericourt Woods.

Though frequent counter-attacks were made, the troops were forced back little by little from the corps line towards some improvised trenches hastily dug under the C.R.E.'s (Col.