]] the party met Captain Brown, Medical Officer of 11th Battalion, who briefed Captain McCoy that Brigade HQ was understood to be moving to [[HOUDAIN]]. The Officers then commandeered two R.A.F. lorries and Captain McCoy’s party, together with the [[NUNCQ]] Rear Party, under 2/Lt C.B. Peartree and R.Q.M.S. Thrift, plus the 507th Field Company, Royal Engineers, left for [[HOUDAIN]] and reached there at 22:00 hours. The entire Brigade party then moved on to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haverskerque HAVERSKERQUE] where two composite Companies were formed under Captains McCoy and Robson respectively. At [[LATTRE]], by 12:00 hours, no contact had been able to be made with Brigade HQ, the 11th Battalion or 1st Tyneside Scottish. The Adjutant proceeded by motorcycle in an attempt to contact the 11th Battalion and heard, from an 11th Battalion Sergeant, that 11th Battalion were withdrawing to the [[HERMAVILLE]] area. Although heavy firing had been heard to the South-East, the Battalion was ignorant of what was taking place on the Brigade’s front. At 14:30 hours the Battalion Commander proceeded by car to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hauteville,_Pas-de-Calais HAUTEVILLE] and met Captain Hedley of 23rd Division, who had heard that 70th Brigade had withdrawn to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berles-Monchel BERLES] and that the Division would probably take up a line between [[ACQ]] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aubigny-en-Artois AUBIGNY]. He indicated that the position forward was very involved. The Commanding Officer diverted the stragglers from 10th and 11th Battalions to [[LATTRE]]. On his return, he ordered “D” Company to take up a position in a small copse covering the main [[ARRAS]] to AVESNES road. At 15:30 hours the Adjutant ascertained that AVESNES was occupied by German Armoured Fighting Vehicles, as he had come under considerable fire. The transport was immediately dispatched to the [[HERMAVILLE]] area with orders to lay up and contact the Battalion, which would withdraw to [[HERMAVILLE]] at dusk. As enemy armoured cars had been seen in the vicinity “HQ” Company were withdrawn from [[LATTRE]] through “D” Company, to occupy a hamlet halfway between [[LATTRE]] and [[HABARQ]] on the main road. “A” Company, on the outskirts of [[LATTRE]], had some contact with enemy scouts, who did not appear very offensive. A French Tank Officer reported to the Battalion Commander that AVESNES was occupied by a considerable force of hostile Armoured Fighting Vehicles and the C.O. decided, under the circumstances, to withdraw to the [[HERMAVILLE]] area which was given as a rendezvous. This withdrawal commenced at 18:00 hours, with “D” and “A” Companies providing rear and flank guards. The Battalion’s Padre – Captain E. Cave, Medical Officer – Lt C.E. Iliffe and the French Liaison Officer left in a separate truck and missed the correct road. They eventually arrived at [[NUNCQ]] and were not heard of again. The Adjutant proceeded ahead to try and contact 70th Brigade at BERLES where he found a party from the 11th Battalion. The C.O. proceeded to BERLES where he attempted to bring this party under command of 10th Battalion, but could not make contact with them. Lt Oldham, Quartermaster, having contacted the Battalion at [[HERMAVILLE]], returned to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agni%C3%A8res AGNIERES] with two spies who had been caught, one dressed as a curé, and Orders were issued for a meal to be prepared in the station yard at AGNIERES. '''21st May 1940''' The Battalion arrived at AGNIERES at 00:30 hours and were joined by Captain Welford and 40 men of the 11th Battalion. The party had a meal before moving on at 03:00 hours to [[CAMBIGNEUL]], arriving there at 05:00 hours in a very exhausted condition. Guards were posted and the men went into billets. The C.O. went out in an attempt to gain contact with Brigade by using Cavalry wireless sets, if any could be found. He was notified of a location of a Cavalry unit in [[ARRAS]] and proceeded there. The Cavalry Squadron Commander reported that German troops had occupied [[HERMAVILLE]] some quarter of an hour after the Battalion had left there the previous night. Brigade HQ of the Welsh Guards in [[ARRAS]] was able to pass details of the Battalion’s location on to 23rd Division. The C.O. returned to [[CAMBIGNEUL]] and the village was put into a complete state of defence. During the day, British and French Armoured Fighting Vehicles kept passing and repassing through the village – fighting appearing to take place to the East, South and West. An escaped soldier of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12th_Lancers 12th Lancers] joined up with the Battalion and one of that Regiment’s Armoured Cars brought in a dead Lancer, who was buried in the Churchyard by Lt Oldham. R.A.S.C. transport arrived to take the Battalion to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seclin SECLIN] and by using these vehicles, together with the remaining Battalion trucks, the Battalion moved. One truck was disabled and one man wounded. The convoy was separated on the journey but reached SECLIN safely – the men being very exhausted. '''22nd May 1940''' Stragglers joined the unit from 6th, 8th and 9th Battalions of the DLI from 151st Brigade. After leaving SECLIN at 03:00 hours the Battalion arrived at [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gondecourt GONDECOURT]. Captain Shipley, 2/Lts Smallwood and Hamilton, with about 300 men of the 11th Battalion also arrived in GONDECOURT. Later in the day 2/Lt Sopwith, the Padre (Captain O’Neill Elliott), the Quartermaster (Lt Collie) and 49 men, ''presumably all of the 11th Battalion'', arrived and joined Captain Shipley’s force. At 21:00 hours Orders were received for the remainder of the 10th and 11th Battalions and the 69th Brigade to proceed to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watten,_Nord WATTEN] and take up a position on the CANAL du LAA facing West, after destroying all bridges. The convoy taking the troops to this destination was protected by a Troop of Carriers and Light Tanks. On the way to their destination the convoy was halted and turned back, as the enemy had apparently already broken through ahead. '''23rd May 1940''' The Battalion arrived back in GONDECOURT at 05:00 and spent the rest of the day resting. '''24th May 1940''' The 50th Division passed through GONDECOURT after taking part in the defence of [[ARRAS]]. Captain Burr, 2/Lt Calderwood and 70 men of 1st Tyneside Scottish arrived in GONDECOURT. The personnel from 70th Brigade at this location were formed into a unit known as “Marleyforce” commanded by Lt Col Marley, C.O. of 10th Battalion. The make-up of the unit was as follows :- Battalion HQ Lt Col C.D. Marley C.O. Major Hall 2 i/c Captain Wilkinson Adjutant 2/Lt Gill Intelligence Officer H Q Company Captain Shipley 2/Lt Seymour Motor transport Officer 2/Lt Hamilton 2/Lt Calderwood Lt Oldham Quartermaster Lt Collie Quartermaster A Company Captain Stock 2/Lt King D Company Captain Morrison 2/Lt Gay P Company Captain Burr Lt McGregor X Company Captain Welford 2/Lt Sopwith Y Company Captain Lawn 2/Lt Dickinson 2/Lt Pattullo Z Company 2/Lt Watkins 2/Lt Smallwood '''25th May 1940''' The day was spent in organising the new force. '''26th May 1940''' The composite Battalion “Marleyforce” left GONDECOURT at 02:00 hours and proceeded by march route to a wood one mile North of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaucamps-Ligny BEAUCAMPS] and remained there until the afternoon. 2/Lt King and 98 men were sent, under Divisional arrangements, to guard bridges over the LA BASSEE CANAL. Marleyforce proceeded to Le GRAND MORTIER with considerable enemy aircraft action taking place, several bombers being shot down, and then spent the night in barns. Battalion HQ was located in the “D” Company billet. '''27th May 1940''' Battalion HQ and “D” Company were attacked by six enemy bombers, the ration truck being overturned in a bomb explosion. Five men were buried in this attack but all were rescued unhurt. One man was injured