ack and
turned his thoughts elsewhere.

Unfortunately, however, in the course of these operations, Monchy (p. 076)
had to be evacuated by the British, which enabled the Boche to gain
observation on the city which, thereafter, came in for a good amount
of shelling, and again the inhabitants were forced much against their
will to leave the stricken place.

All manner of heavy shell fell in the town, and the damage caused was
considerable, and it was no longer the haven of rest for the troops
which it had been a few months previously. Our wagon lines, meanwhile,
had not escaped undamaged, and were forced to change positions on
several occasions until, at last, comfortable quarters were obtained
in the little village of Bretencourt, where the houses still had roofs
covering them, as the hamlet was just outside the devastated area.
When affairs settled down once more, the battery positions were
gradually advanced, and we dug a new position east of Ficheux, where
the guns were meanwhile situated.

A forward section was established ahead in the railway cutting of the
Arras-Albert line, and we subjected the enemy to as much
unpleasantness as it lay in our power to devise.

We were not, however, any length of time in this sector, and were
removed to the adjoining one immediately to the south.

The line required rectifying in several places, and in a brilliant
minor operation, the village of Ayette was carried and remained firmly
in our hands.

Our new position was situated on the high ground to the north of
Adinfer Wood, immediately behind the village of the same name, but the
neighbourhood was much more peaceful than that which we had recently
quitted, as everywhere we had observation over the enemy, and
naturally he never created trouble under such circumstances.

The wagon lines were again moved, this time much further behind, to
the small village of Gaudiempre, where one might have imagined one was
completely out of the war area, it appeared so quiet.

The place was intact and all were ensconced in snug little billets,
while the horses were well off also, as opportunities for grazing were
afforded round about the neighbourhood.

Then the enemy's second great offensive opened on the Lys, and all
eyes were turned in that direction, but everyone held the opinion
that, sooner or later, he would be brought to a standstill, which
proved to be the case.

In fact, throughout the whole of this trying period, the