to the men whose idea of a trench was a ditch below
the ground level. The dispositions of the Battalion were as follows: A
Company were on the south side of the Potijze road and the remainder on
the north side, with B Company on the right, D Company in the centre, and
C Company on the left. The machine-gun section was with D Company.
Transport lines were established just behind the Chateau near to a
Canadian Battery. The position was unfortunate, for the section came
under heavy shell fire and had several men and horses hit.

Sunday, the 25th April, was the first day spent by the Battalion in the
trenches. There was a considerable amount of shelling, but fortunately
the Battalion in the trenches did not suffer. In the evening, as it got
dark, the Battalion moved out of the trench and, forming up on the road
which it had left the previous night, marched in fours for about a mile
to Velorenhoek village, which was then almost intact. There the Battalion
came under the orders of the 85th Infantry Brigade, and halted. All ranks
slept for some hours on the roadside, or in the fields, gardens or
cottages close to the road. Before dawn the Brigadier ordered the
Battalion to vacate the village, and the column moved a few hundred yards
up the road to the east. Here the Companies left the road and the men
improved with their entrenching tools the little cover in the form of
ditches and trenches which was to be found, and then lay down. Throughout
this and the succeeding days the men were in marching order with full
packs. The transport moved back to Potijze Wood, except the ration
limbers, which went back to Poperinghe.

About 10 a.m. on the 26th word was passed for the Commanding Officer and
Adjutant, who accordingly reported to the Brigadier of the 85th Brigade.
He was standing on the north side of the road on a little rising ground
from which there was a view for a mile or two to the eastward. He gave
the following order verbally: "The Germans have broken through our line
and are advancing south-west. The Durham Light Infantry (6th Battalion)
will advance and take up positions between Zonnebeke level crossing and
Hill 37." He described the position of the crossing, later known as
Devil's Crossing, by pointing out the direction and stated that the hill
with a few trees on it to the E.N.E. was Hill 37. He further stated that
the Shropshire Light Infantry would be on the right and that
Lieut.-Colonel Bridgford, of that Regiment,