valuable. Lieut. H. St. A. Murray received the Military Cross, 2nd Corpl. C. P. Atkins the Meritorious Service Medal, and 2nd Corpl. A. M. Stewart, 2nd Corpl. J. J. Mace, Lance-Corpl. W. G. Toft, Driver A. H. Furniss, and Sapper F. G. Bugden, the Military Medal.
3. Revisiting Old Haunts.
On being relieved in Ypres by the 12th Canadian Field Company Engineers, the company moved on the 22nd of October back to Recquebrœucq (dismounted by train, transport by road), and rested and re-fitted until 12th November, 1917, when the division once more went into the line, in Flanders, re-visiting one of its old haunts in the Le Touquet—Pont Rouge and Warneton sectors, taking over from the 8th British Division.
The 11th Field Company A.E. was placed in reserve, took over a camp near Wulverghem (28 T.10.a.5, 9), and commenced work on pipe burying, artillery positions, drainage, and the like. Regular winter warfare conditions commenced, and much useful work was effected.
While the company was in Wulverghem Camp (which by the way, the sappers scornfully christened “Gutza Camp,” from its forlorn appearance, but which proved not so uncomfortable) several daylight bombing raids by enemy aeroplanes in force took place, and on one occasion the company suffered the loss of Corpl. Gray, killed, and C.-S.-M. Brander seriously wounded.
After a month in the line, the division was relieved by the 2nd Australian Division, and went into Corps reserve, with headquarters at Meteren, and the 11th Field Company, A.E., moved into Mahutonga Camp, on Waterloo Road, near Neuve Eglise. A programme of training was commenced, but most of the available strength was soon absorbed on various back areas works, and finally the division somewhat unexpectedly took over the Armentières sector from the 38th (Welsh) Division. This unit went into the line with the 11th A.I. Brigade on the right, and billeted in the big jute factory near the emergency bridge over the Lys, on the outskirts of Armentières.
As usual, there was no lack of work for the sappers. The trench system required a great deal of development, particularly with a view to a step by step defence in depth, and a number of dugout jobs were taken over from the 38th Division. Lys river bridges again came under the company’s care, but on a stretch of the river a little south of the crossings familiar during the previous winter. Charges had to be overhauled, leads repaired and tested, magazines rebuilt.
The billets were comfortable, but, as usual, throughout the cold weather, the fuel supply was a “burning” problem. In the jute factory it was not incapable of solution, as alongside the boiler house there were a large number of coal heaps. These
were watched over by the factory caretaker and liberally placarded with notices, “Not to be touched,” but if each sapper in a section moving from cookhouse to billets casually picked up a lump of coal, the section stove need never go cold.
A holiday from the line work was granted on Christmas Day, and full advantage was taken of it for seasonable feasting. The officers and sergeants, who attended first their section dinners, and afterwards the meals in their own messes, had rather a trying day.