Heavy casualties forced British Army reorganization in 1918, leading to the disbandment and reassignment of the 8th, 9th and 10th Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Instead of manning continuous trenchlines, they adopted 'defence in depth', with three zones (Advanced, Battle and Rear) containing strongly manned posts. Reserves were in the Rear Zone and most fighting was in the Battle Zone. Before dawn on March 21st, the 1st and 2nd Dublins (the latter in the trenches for 40 days and nights) were side by side awaiting attack.

The German pre-assault bombardment was eight miles deep: gas and shelling claimed 1,062 of the 1st and 2nd RDF in under ten hours. Over about 10 days, the 16th (Irish) Division lost 7,149 men and the Ulster regiments, 6,109. The 16th was reduced to the strength of a single infantry battalion. The Dublin Fusiliers assembled at Hamel with the 16th Division.

The 1st and 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers were amalgamated and most of their dead were not found. The 16th (Irish), with 500 Americans and 400 Canadians, dug in near Hamel to stop the German advance. Before the German March Offensive collapsed, the 5th Royal Irish Fusiliers was the only Irish regiment left in the 16th Division. Over a few weeks, the 1st Dublins re-joined the 86th Brigade of the 29th Division, the 2nd RDF went to the 94th Brigade of the 31st Division.

The 2nd Dublins went into battle near Le Cateau on October 16th with 20 officers and 458 other ranks. They suffered 210 casualties within two days. The war ended on November 11th, 1918 at 11am.

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