Early in an advance, on 3 October, Maxwell’s company commander was severely wounded. Maxwell immediately took charge. When the company reached the enemy wire obstacle they found it extremely effective and well covered by machine-gun fire. Maxwell single-handedly found a way through the wire, captured the most dangerous gun, killed three enemy and took another four prisoners. This enabled his company to move through the wire and take the objective. Later he again single-handedly silenced a gun which was holding up a flank company. When Maxwell learnt from an English-speaking prisoner that some Germans in a nearby post wished to surrender he took two men to the position. About twenty Germans surrounded them and seized their weapons. At that moment a five-minute barrage came down and Maxwell took advantage of the confusion, pulled out a concealed revolver and shot two of the enemy and then escaped with the other two of his party.