ion arrived in the neighbourhood of
Ypres, and at once took over from the Belgians from just below
Boesinghe northwards. We were thus back on familiar ground, as we had
occupied the next sector to the south in the previous year. Although
we were not actually in the Salient itself, we were situated at the
northern re-entrant to it. The Yser Canal constituted "No Man's Land,"
the eastern bank of which was held by the enemy and the western by
ourselves.

The battery positions on this occasion were placed a considerable
distance behind, mainly around the village of Elverdinghe, as the
enemy had close observation and overlooked us from Pilkem Ridge. We
did not take long to discover that our opponents were well acquainted
with the situation of our new homes, for the majority of the batteries
were subjected at once to an avalanche of shells as soon as they
opened fire in order to register the guns. It became imperative for us
to build alternative positions or go elsewhere, while other sections
moved forward and undertook most of the firing. We had not been
settled more than a few days when the enemy suddenly conceived a
violent attraction for the house occupied by the officers' mess, and,
after several direct hits had been made on it, we decided that the
place was becoming too hot, and searched round for a more suitable
abode. We packed up, made a hasty flight, and secured accommodation in
a house which was strengthened by concrete, but even there we had to
be wary, especially at night, for we were very close to a road fork,
beloved by the enemy gunners.

The majority of the O.P.'s were also obvious to the keen eyes of the
foe, who paid them much attention on every possible occasion, and it
was just as well for the occupants that they had been strongly (p. 048)
constructed with steel girders and concrete. On one occasion an
officer, doing a night O.P. duty, along with his telephonist, was
subjected to a full hour's bombardment by two hostile batteries, which
fired salvoes regularly every minute. Next morning there was nothing
left of the house except the skeleton, with the O.P. structure
standing out defiant in bold relief in the midst of it.

These then were the conditions on this sector at the time of our
taking it over, and it will be seen that the enemy did more or less
what he chose, and was undoubtedly top dog as far as gunnery was
concerned. However, this was not to remain long so, as almost
immediately preparat