the line. It was not that the
digging was such hard or jumpy work, but the fact that it took two
hours to get there and two more to come back, which made it such a
trying business. There were very few casualties, though B Company had
a lucky escape. A shell landed right in the middle of them and wounded
thirteen, five of whom had to go to hospital, while the other eight
asked to remain on duty, fearing lest, if they went to hospital, they
might be posted to another battalion.

On the night of 31st July/1st August, we took over the right
sub-sector of the line from the Somersets, and were lucky in having to
keep only one company in the line. This front line consisted of a
series of posts, each held by a section and built up as a breastwork,
trenches being impossible. The Noc and Clarence Rivers sluggishly
meandered through our line, and even in summer the water level was
only about nine inches below the surface. Behind these posts was a
semi-continuous support line, and half a mile farther back a
continuous main line, fairly well complete as to wire and parapet,
but hardly anything in the way of parados, so there was plenty of work
for everyone. D Company (Captain R.A. Andrew) held the front line with
their H.Q. at Baquerolles Farm, A and B Companies were in support, and
C back at Robecq in reserve. Battalion H.Q. were at Carvin Farm.
Frequent patrols were sent out, and the Bosche paid us a certain
amount of attention both with high explosives and gas, and at night
turned on his machine guns along the routes by which rations came up,
but at no time could it have been called anything but a quiet sector.

We had been six days in the line when about four o'clock in the
afternoon word came from the battalion on the left that the enemy were
massing in front. Captain Andrew at once sent out officers' patrols
who discovered no signs of the enemy, so he took his company forward
and occupied the German trenches, and by evening held a line about
half a mile farther forward. It was now evident that the enemy
intended evacuating the salient which our gunners had made so
unpleasant for him for some time past, and by nightfall our whole line
was moving forward. To D Company fell the distinction of initiating
the advance on the whole corps' front, and then B Company passed
through them and advanced the line to Rues des Vaches Farm. So rapid
had been our advance that a party of Germans, still under the
impression that they were behind