s for no detailed treatment. Headquarters, and the
balance of the men not employed at the different railheads, remained at
St. Omer, first in the artillery barracks, and from July 1st under
canvas.

The numbers at the various railheads altered very considerably from time
to time, e.g., on June 6th 210 other ranks were scattered over fifteen
stations, and on September 24th there were 374 other ranks at twenty-one
different stations.

In addition to these details, the Battalion was called upon to furnish
escorts and large parties for detraining work.

During the battle of Loos the Kensingtons and London Rifle Brigade
between them furnished all the escorts for German prisoners, every
available man, including grooms and officers' servants, being used.

The variety of the work on lines of communication provided scope for
every type of individual--clerks to R.T.O.'s, telephone operators,
guards, shell fuse setters, navvies on coal wharves, caretakers of a
horse rest camp, hospital orderlies--while from time to time at small
stations non-commissioned officers were left in complete charge.

_To face page 25._

[Illustration: SEC.-LIEUT. WALLIS AND "D" COMPANY.

_20th May, 1915._]

From September 2nd to 30th the following four officers were lent to the
Gas Brigade, and took part in the battle of Loos:--Captain R. E. Otter,
Lieutenant F. H. Wallis, and Sec.-Lieutenants A. B. White and F. D.
Charles.

On August 9th the composite Battalion was broken up, and each unit
regained its individuality. This did not make any practical difference
until October 2nd, when the London Rifle Brigade was transferred from
the lines of communication to General Headquarters troops, and marched
to Blendecques, the band of the Artists being kindly lent by their
Commanding Officer to play it out.

While the Battalion was under canvas at General Headquarters, the
officers messed in the Salle d'Honneur of the 8th Regiment of Infantry.
On leaving, a present of a glass inkpot, with the regimental crest of
the London Rifle Brigade, was sent to this French regiment as a small
memento of the occasion. A most cordial and charming reply was received
by Colonel Bates from Colonel Roubert, in which the latter looked
forward to seeing the London Rifle Brigade once again in his barracks
after victory had crowned the Allies' arms.

[Sidenote: =Oct. 2nd--25th.=]

The stay at Blendecques was intended to be a period of training before
being sent back to