ucourt, where it was in Divisional Reserve. This village,
which had at one time been in the front line system, was practically
nothing but ruins and the Battalion was accommodated in a large camp of
French huts, fitted with wire beds, each hut holding about 150 men. Here,
final preparations were made for the line, which was visited by officers
who reported that the trenches were dry and in good condition. It was
very frosty weather at this time, but unfortunately before the Battalion
moved up a thaw had set in. The relief of the 5th Yorkshire Regiment will
never be forgotten by those of the Battalion who took part in it.
Following on the methods adopted by the French the relief took place
through very long communication trenches, running from Estrees through
Berny to the line in front of Misery. These trenches, as a result of the
thaw, were everywhere knee deep in mud and usually waist deep, and men
arrived in the line without boots and in a few cases without trousers,
having lost them in the mud. The experiences of X Company were perhaps
the worst. Leaving camp at about 5 p.m., then 130 strong, they were met
by guides, who lost their way, and eventually arrived in the front line
at dawn, having lost over 100 men stuck in the mud. The relief was not
reported complete till 4 p.m. the next day. The front line trenches were
worse if possible than the communication trenches, and the days that
followed were most unpleasant. There was very little cover from enemy
snipers, who were pretty active, and there were several casualties from
fishtail trench mortars. One night was marked by a very intense "strafe"
for a short time with rifle grenades and trench mortars. It afterwards
appeared that this was the enemy's parting shot, for soon after the
Division was relieved the enemy's extensive retirement on this sector
took place. After two tours in the front line, one in support in trenches
round Berny, and one in reserve at Foucaucourt, the Battalion was
relieved early in March by the 2/5th South Staffordshire Regiment (59th
Division), who had just come from Ireland and had not previously seen any
fighting in France. On relief the Battalion returned to Foucaucourt.

Towards the end of the tour Lieut.-Col. Jeffreys left the Battalion for
a few days in hospital, during which time Major Little, of the 5th Border
Regiment, and Major Crouch of the 9th Durham Light Infantry, both held
command. He returned, however, when the Battalion came o