ut of the line.

This ended the tour in the Somme region, but the Battalion did not leave
the area till the end of the month, the period being spent in huts at
Morcourt, where an energetic programme of training and sports was carried
out. The principal feature of the sports was the success of members of
the Battalion, including Sergt. Young and Ptes. Nimney and Moody in the
Brigade and Divisional boxing contests. Although there were no
outstanding incidents to record of this training, Morcourt seems to mark
one of those turning points in the history of the Battalion from which
all subsequent events date. So many small things occurred there that it
was remarked by later comers that it appeared to them that the Morcourt
training must have lasted for months. One event, however, can be pointed
to as a turning point. On the 25th March, Lieut.-Col. Jeffreys, who had
never fully recovered from the wounds received in Sanctuary Wood, was
ordered to return to England on account of ill-health, and handed over
command to Major W.D. Carswell Hunt, M.C., of the 7th Durham Light
Infantry. Colonel Jeffreys' personal influence and fighting qualities,
strongly reflected even in his absence in those officers who had received
their early training under him, had been largely responsible for the
reputation and the success of the Battalion during its first two years of
fighting and his departure was greatly regretted by all ranks.

A few days after he left, the Battalion was on the move to take part in
the battle which was about to begin at Arras.

CHAPTER IV.

ARRAS.

_First Phase._

From Morcourt the Battalion moved by motor 'buses through Amiens to
Talmas preparatory to a long trek on foot. The first two nights were
spent at Wargnies and Havernas. Here a famous Church Parade was held, at
which the Commanding Officer, in the absence of a Chaplain, preached his
first and, as it proved, his last sermon. From there the Battalion
marched to Longuevillette and then to Vacquerie-le-Bourcq, spending a
night at each place. About this time Lieut. Arnott left the Battalion and
Lieut. G.D.R. Dobson (7th Durham Light Infantry) became Adjutant. The
next day Blangerval and Blangermont were reached and a short stay made,
half the Battalion being accommodated in each village. From here Major
Hunt went up by car to see the forward area and died of heart failure on
the journey. He was brought back to St. Pol, where he was buried in the
cemeter