concerning the tour, it formed the subject of many conversations and
jests when harder times followed. Many times, probably, in the
water-logged shell holes of Passchendaele in 1918 was it recalled how
once at Armentieres even the duck boards were cleaned daily and men were
crimed for throwing matches on them. It is not forgotten either how the
Battalion Band first came into being at Houplines.

On the 11th August, the 6th and 8th Battalions once more assumed a
separate identity. Major Borrett, D.S.O., the King's Own, took over
command of the 6th Battalion with Capt. Jeffreys once more as Adjutant.
Four days later Major Borrett left and handed over the command to Capt.
Jeffreys, 2nd Lieut. P.H.B. Lyon becoming Adjutant. On this
re-organization the Companies of the Battalion became known as W, X, Y,
and Z. About the same time the 5th Battalion Loyal North Lancashire
Regiment left the Brigade, and was replaced by the 5th Battalion Border
Regiment.

Early in September, some excitement was caused by the rumour that the
"Mushroom," a circular trench in the Battalion sector, was mined and
likely to be blown up. Bombers of W Company patrolled it and slept in it
for six nights without result. On the 25th September the heavy firing at
Loos caused a little anxiety. The day after this the Battalion sector was
slightly altered by the taking over of the Houplines trenches from the
12th Division. A little more excitement than usual occurred on 13th
October, when a demonstration was made by the artillery and the throwing
of smoke bombs.

The tour ended on the 10th November, when the Battalion was relieved and
marched to billets at La Creche, near Bailleul, where it stayed for a
month enjoying its first rest since embarkation.

_Second Phase._

Early in December it was known that the next tour was to be once more in
the "Salient." On the 17th December the Battalion entrained at
Steenwercke for Poperinghe, from where it marched to Dickebusch huts,
which are always remembered as being built on islands in a sea of mud.
The following night another march via Kruisstraat and Zillebeke brought
the men to Maple Copse where they relieved the 11th Royal Scots (9th
Division). The trenches were found to consist of holes and ditches which
were worked on till they were quite good and dry. It was here that
arrangements were first made for the prevention of trench feet.

Sunday, the 19th December, was marked by a German gas attack north of
H