the front. The actual period was 23 days, but, as it
took more than a week to collect all the details from the various
railheads, little more than a fortnight's full training was possible.

The reluctance of the authorities at these railheads to part with their
London Rifle Brigade detachments, even after their reliefs had arrived,
although complimentary, was not a little annoying, but the grateful
letters received by the Commanding Officer in some measure compensated
for the delay.

These three weeks were a period of remobilisation. Most of the
non-commissioned officers who had survived Ypres had taken commissions.
All the specialists had to be retrained. The transport and detailed
equipment had to be indented for. The essentials were received by
degrees, and actually completed a few days before the Battalion moved.

[Sidenote: =Oct. 25th.=]

The London Rifle Brigade moved by motor-bus in pouring rain to join the
3rd Division, which was resting east of Cassel. It relieved the
Honourable Artillery Company in the 8th Infantry Brigade. The latter
Battalion returned in the same buses. The transport had marched on the
previous day.

Incessant rain and frequent inspections, combined with training on the
lines laid down by the new Division, employed the time up to November
23rd.

_To face page 26._

[Illustration: SEC.-LIEUT. BARKER AND M.G. TEAM.

_20th May, 1915._]

_To face page 27._

[Illustration: THE BARRACKS, GENERAL HEADQUARTERS.]

[Sidenote: =Nov. 23rd.=]

The Battalion marched to Poperinghe. For the first time it now had a
bombing section of 2 officers and 70 other ranks; a sniping detachment
was also organised.

[Sidenote: =Nov. 29th.=]

The Battalion relieved the Liverpool Scottish in the front line. The
trenches were in a desperate state, with very few traverses, no complete
communication trenches or second line, and mud quite indescribable. They
were also overlooked, and enfiladed by the enemy. The tour was normally
seven days, with two companies in the front line and two in reserve near
Battalion Headquarters.

Work was rendered very difficult owing to the water-logged nature of the
ground.

Ration parties took as much as seven hours to accomplish one round
journey.

On the whole, the Battalion was amazingly fortunate while in these
trenches. It suffered casualties from occasional shelling and sniping,
but on certainly two occasions the enemy bombarded the trenches and blew
in fifty ya