he task was not easy, and it was
found impossible to complete the information in time for a lecture before
the Battalion returned to the line. The material was carefully preserved,
however, and was the only portion of the records which survived the
disaster of the 27th May, 1918. As soon as time permitted, the task was
continued, but owing to there being very few survivors of earlier days,
many details have probably escaped notice. Imperfect and incomplete as
the story is, however, it is hoped that the details related will serve to
recall other incidents, both pleasant and unpleasant, to those members of
the Battalion who have been fortunate enough to survive.

It is regretted that it has not been found practicable to include a
chapter on the inner life of the Battalion which centred round the
characters of some of its members. So many names occur to one's mind that
a chapter would be inadequate to mention all, and the exclusion of any
would have involved an invidious and unjustifiable selection.

R.B.A.

_July, 1919._

CHAPTER I.

THE "SALIENT."

_First Phase._

The end of March, 1915, found the 50th (Northumbrian) Division of the
Territorial Force awaiting orders to proceed overseas. The infantry of
the Division consisted of the 149th Infantry Brigade (4th, 5th, 6th and
7th Battalions Northumberland Fusiliers), the 150th Infantry Brigade (4th
Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, 4th and 5th Battalions Yorkshire
Regiment, and 5th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry), and the 151st
Infantry Brigade (6th, 7th, 8th and 9th Battalions The Durham Light
Infantry). Early in April, when the 6th Battalion The Durham Light
Infantry were in billets at Gateshead, the orders arrived and on the 10th
April Capt. F. Walton proceeded to Havre to make arrangements for the
arrival of the transport section. The first detachment of men to leave
Gateshead consisted of the transport and machine-gun sections which,
under Major J.E. Hawdon, Second in Command, and Lieut. H.T. Bircham,
Transport Officer, entrained at the Cattle Market, Newcastle, on the 17th
April for Southampton, _en route_ for Havre.

Two days later the remainder of the Battalion entrained at the Central
Station, Newcastle, with the following officers: Lieut.-Col. H.C. Watson
in command, Capt. J.W. Jeffreys, Adjutant; Major W.M. Mackay, Medical
Officer; Capt. A.P. Cummins, commanding A Company; Major