envied the Bosche.

We were in the line in most parts of the Vimy sector, gradually working
our way to the right towards Arras by Willerval and Bailleul. When out
of the line the various camps about Neuville St. Vaast and Mont St. Eloy
housed us. The latter place received some attention from a high velocity
gun, whose shell approached in a most alarming manner. The noise was the
worst part as the effects were generally local; but one night a hut
containing 2nd L.F.A. personnel was hit and twelve killed and sixteen
wounded. A few shells landed on our parade ground but did no damage.

In the course of our wanderings in this part of the line Battalion
Headquarters had a spell in the Thelus chalk caves. They are said to
have once connected with Mont St. Eloy, some three or four miles away.
Now these tunnels are blocked, but they are very extensive and cold;
even in the hot weather cardigans had to be worn below. Electricity
supplied the light for our one and only globe until it got smashed, when
the law of "might" supplied another.

The old German dug-outs in other parts excited our interest, rows of
beds in tiers of wooden frames and rabbit wire reminded one of a
lodging-house, but the latter type of residence is probably fresher. The
beds were delightful for sleeping on, and clean, but one restless
sleeper would make the row oscillate in harmony.

At this time we were in the Eighth Corps, and our corps commander,
Lieut.-General Hunter Weston, paid us a visit in July and made a
complete tour at a high rate of speed, and finished fresh at the head of
an exhausted staff.

One spell out of the line was spent at Villiers au Bois, where some
training was expected, as we had had none worth speaking of in France.
Instead of that we became the village road sweepers and scavengers and
so fitted ourselves for our return to the line.

Lieut. Carmichael, D.S.O., supplied the one thrill in the way of
patrols. The two lines near Arleux lay some 600 yards or so apart and
the Bosche was very inactive. He did not seem to be so keen on roaming
about in the dark as the Turk. One night in July Lieut. Carmichael set
out with two battalion scouts, Ptes. Pirie and Kinniburgh, to
reconnoitre a part of the Bosche wire. The men were armed in the usual
way for those adventures, _i.e._ with bayonet and a few bombs only and
dressed in burberry suits, which made them look more like deep-sea
divers than soldiers. A covering party accompanied them