n were re-organised, and going forward again,
re-occupied the Caix line. For this action Capt. G.E. Cardew and 2nd
Lieut. R. Wilson received the Military Cross.

It was found impossible to hold the line much longer, and about 4 p.m.
the Battalion withdrew along the Beaucourt road and received verbal
instructions to move to Moreuil. The cooks, storemen, buglers, etc., who
had been left behind when the Battalion had moved up on the 21st March,
and had since been in action as part of a composite battalion, had been
collected by Major T.B. Heslop, and with some stragglers were now at
Ailly-sur-Noye. These were ordered up to the line on the 29th and moved
to Demuin Wood, where they arrived after having marched 30 kilometres
over congested roads during the previous 20 hours. They remained in the
area for several days, and had a very strenuous time with several
casualties. After this party had moved up, stragglers were collected by
Capt. Aubin at Boves, and these, with the transport, moved by stages to
Saleux, passing large numbers of French troops moving up to check the
advance. At Saleux the remnants of the Division, except the details who
were still in the line, were re-organised in case of emergency, and
eventually entrained to Rue and marched to billets at Vron. Here Major
Heslop and his party rejoined. These billets were not far from the coast,
and it was expected that after the strenuous fortnight there would be a
short rest. This was not to be, however, but, as an alternative, rumour
suggested a tour of duty in an easy part of the line. This appeared to be
confirmed when after two days the Battalion moved by 'bus to the Bethune
area.

_Second Phase._

On debussing just west of Bethune, the Battalion marched through the town
to billets at Beuvry, which was about four miles behind one of the
quietest sectors on the British front. Here a draft of about 400 men
arrived, and preparations were being made for a relief of the 55th
Division near La Bassee. These arrangements, however, were not carried
out, and after a few days the Battalion moved by a short railway journey
to Estaires, where it occupied billets in the town, all the
officers--except the Commanding Officer, Adjutant, Transport Officer and
Capt. Cardew--being in one billet, the Convent. At this time Estaires,
though a very short distance behind the line, was a flourishing town.

After a quiet day and night, alarming rumours of the second German
offensive spr