right gallantly
they did so.

Givenchy, while receiving but slight mention in Sir John French's
dispatches, was perhaps only a minor affair; but the fact that, owing
largely to a shortage of bombs, we were unable to hold the ground we had
gained does not in any way detract from the gallantry of the attack.
Comparisons with Hulluch or Loos cannot be made, as we had nothing like
the support of either infantry or guns that were available on those
later occasions.

The Canadians relieved the Guards in the Givenchy trenches during the
second week in June. Our brigade was still in reserve around Bethune
when they passed us; the Prince of Wales, a slim, tired-looking boy in
khaki, marched by with his regiment. It wasn't often we had any of the
Royal Family march past us; generally the boot was on the other leg!

We entered the trenches at night and, as usual, in a drizzling rain.
Except for the fact that it was miserable weather, that we had followed
the La Bassee Canal in, and that he had a jumping toothache, the writer
has no vivid impressions of that night.

We lay in some trenches just in front of the ruined distillery, dug in a
commanding mound that had been thrown up in building the canal, and
stayed there till next night, when we moved forward again, two companies
going into the front line and two, one of them the writer's, occupying a
support trench.

Here we learned what work was, every bit of food, bombs, and ammunition
required for the front line being carried up these narrow twisted
communication trenches by the support companies, for the proximity of
our line to the enemy would not permit of taking a single man from the
front line. It was the one time we cursed the heavy mailbags that
arrived with unceasing regularity every night.

The right of our trenches here rested on the canal, and could go no
further forward owing to a small marsh that lay in front. But about
the centre of the position the line swooped forward into a small and
dangerous salient known as the "Duck's Bill."

[Illustration: THE DISTILLERY AT GIVENCHY.]

It was opposite here we proposed to attack, the actual objective being
the high ground between points H2 and H3 on the map. If we and the 7th
Division on our left could gain this high ground it would straighten out
this dangerous salient and give us a footing on the Aubers Ridge.

Great preparation was made for this attack. A mine that had been under
construction for months was to be