ompanies, gradually working more and more
on their own, were attached to the Regulars. When not actually in the
line, the whole day was invariably taken up with "fatigues" of all
kinds.

A support line in the wood was remade and named Bunhill Row.

It was during this period that the Battalion gained the nicknames
"London fatigue party" or "Fatigue Fifth," and other affectionate titles
which would not look well in print.

The Battalion also learnt what it meant to have the "dripping swung on
it."

The 11th Infantry Brigade was composed of the following Battalions:--

1st Somerset Light Infantry.
1st East Lancashire Regiment.
1st Hampshire Regiment.
1st Rifle Brigade.

[Sidenote: =Dec. 19th.=]

The object of the attack by the 11th Infantry Brigade in front of
Ploegsteert Wood on this date was to clear its edges, including
German House, and, if possible, establish a line in front in the part
afterwards known as the "birdcage."

_To face page 13._

[Illustration: PLOEGSTEERT WOOD.]

The Somerset Light Infantry and Rifle Brigade attacked. The London Rifle
Brigade was in support. The weather could not have been worse, and the
ground was impossible. The result was that the wood was cleared, and
German House remained in No Man's Land.

The London Rifle Brigade was not called upon to continue the attack.
This was the first experience the Battalion had of anything like heavy
artillery fire, and also of the difficulty of consolidating at night in
an unknown bit of ground. Two half-companies were engaged in assisting
in this work, while the rest of the Battalion spent a miserable night in
the marshes in the wood.

[Sidenote: =Dec. 23rd.=]

Each of the four companies was definitely attached, as a fifth company,
to one of the Regular Battalions--"A" to the East Lancs, "B" to the
Somerset Light Infantry, "C" to the Hants, and "D" to the Rifle Brigade.

All four companies of the London Rifle Brigade being in the front line
on the same night, it so happened that before the end of 1914 a
Territorial Battalion held the whole of a Regular Brigade's front with
the exception of half a company on the extreme left.

[Sidenote: =1915.=]

[Sidenote: =Jan. 5th.=]

The London Rifle Brigade was taken out of the trenches preparatory to
taking over a bit of line of its own on the right of the 11th Brigade.

Owing to the incursions of the river Warnave, this trench was in a very
poor st