time. This place, above all others, was always mentioned with a voice
of reverence and awe, and is hallowed by the presence of the gallant
dead who helped in its defence. It was truly the most ill-favoured
sector on the whole of the front held by our armies.

Proceeding by way of Hazebrouck and Cassel, we entered the area
immediately behind the Salient and took up our quarters near the
village of Arneke, for we were not yet due for our spell of duty in
the line. At this time the weather was most unpropitious, and rendered
training in any shape or form out of the question. The ground was
covered with snow to the depth of several inches, and the roads were,
for the most part, frost-bound. A Divisional Artillery Horse Show was
organised, however, and great keenness was displayed by all the
batteries, who spent most of their time horse coping until the day of
the event, which was held at Zeggers Capelle. Our Right Section
Commander, with a team of fine little blacks, managed to secure the
second prize in the principal event.

Several days afterwards we relieved the Division who were holding the
left centre of the Salient, and took up our position on the northern
extremity of Ypres itself, close to the Dead End of the Canal, a short
distance from "Salvation Corner." Here a short description of the
position is imperative, in order to give some idea of the awkward
nature of this sector and of the conditions attaching thereto. The
distance between the jaws of the Salient was some five miles
across--from the banks of the Yser Canal at Boesinghe on the north to
the neighbourhood of St. Eloi on the south, while the ground held by
us extended about two-and-a half miles east of Ypres in a semi-circle.
Nearly everywhere the enemy was established on rising ground and (p. 024)
overlooked our territory, and, with few exceptions, all that was
visible to us was his first line system. The enemy was thus enabled to
detect any movement behind our line, while we were more or less
"blind."

Owing to the confined space through which an entrance into the Salient
could be effected, great difficulty was experienced in the matter of
transport, as there was only one main artery, namely, the
Ypres-Poperinghe road. Every evening at dusk this thoroughfare was
crowded with all manner of vehicles, an endless stream, coming and
going throughout the night, and from Vlamertinghe onwards the road was
subjected to constant shelling, and was enfiladed fro