Battalion's first tour in the "Salient."

CHAPTER II.

ARMENTIERES AND THE RETURN TO THE "SALIENT."

_First Phase._

On Sunday, the 20th June, the Battalion marched off from Vlamertinghe at
8.30 a.m. through Ouderdom and Locre to Dranoutre, where it went into
bivouacs at Corunna Farm, being now in the II Corps commanded by Sir
Charles Ferguson, who inspected and addressed the men the following day.
In the evening, after their inspection, they moved up to the front line
and took over the trenches from "E1" to the barricade on the
Kemmel-Wytschaete Road--a quiet sector except for trouble from snipers.

A few days after taking over, an interesting incident occurred. A notice
board was put up in the German trenches bearing the words "Lemberg is
taken." It was accompanied by cheering and the lighting of flares, to
which the front line Companies replied by rapid fire in the direction of
the board. The same day (23rd June) work was started on the mines, which
were eventually blown up in the successful attack on the Wytschaete Ridge
in June, 1917. Apart from this, nothing of interest occurred beyond the
usual reliefs till the middle of July. An announcement which aroused
considerable delight was made on the 15th July to the effect that leave
to England was to be granted, two officers and three other ranks being
allowed to be away at a time for periods of six and four days
respectively.

On the 16th July the Battalion was relieved and moved from Kemmel at 7.30
p.m. proceeding via Dranoutre and Bailleul to Armentieres, where it
arrived at 1 a.m. the next morning and went into billets at the Blue
factory. The following night it moved up to relieve Battalions of the
Royal Scots and Monmouths. B Company under Lieut. R.V. Hare, took over
"67" trench, C Company under Lieut. T.B. Heslop, "68" trench, A Company
under Capt. Ritson (8th D.L.I.), "69" trench, and D Company under Capt.
Livesay, Lille Post. The sector proved to be very quiet and the trenches
exceptionally good. It is interesting to note that about this time the
training of bombers was organised, and 2nd Lieut. P.H.B. Lyon of the
Battalion was appointed first Brigade Bombing Officer.

The men were now beginning to realize that their first taste of
conditions in France was not typical of the whole front, and that war had
its more pleasant side. After the "Salient," the Armentieres trenches
were a picnic, and though there is little of historic interest to record