The town of Armentières was much changed since the previous visit. With the exception of a few caretakers, all the inhabitants had gone, and dreadful tales were told of their experiences when the Boche shelled the place heavily with high explosive and gas about the time of the Messines Battle.
The stay in this sector was quite short, the 57th Division (British) relieving the 3rd Australian Division on 3rd January, 1918, the 11th Field Company, A.E., returning to Mahutonga Camp.
The next move was into the Le Touquet—Pont Rouge sector with the 11th A.I. Brigade, the 11th Field Co., A.E., taking over from the 5th Field Coy., A.E., 2nd Australian Division, on 31st January, 1918.
With the help of a permanent working party from the 11th A.I. Bde., great progress was made in improving the drainage and the whole system of defences of the area. The Company lived very comfortably in the familiar Weka Lines at Romarin, with the transport in the same camp. The wagons had a busy time on this sector and delivered large amounts of material to the dumps at Motor Car Corner and Le Gheer. The old German system of trenches west of the river, which had sheltered the enemy during the Company’s tenancy of this sector the previous spring, were now occupied by us and were very little damaged, having been quietly evacuated by the Boche after Messines. It was very interesting to study his methods, and the concrete dugouts in particular were a monument to his industry. In less then 3,000 yards of line, in the front and support trenches alone—i.e., in a strip of country not more then 300 yards deep—there were found over 70 concrete dugouts and shelters. Many were small, but the smallest involved a great deal of labour in this exposed and water-logged region.
The 3rd Australian Division was now due for its turn in the training area and was relieved by the 2nd Australian Division on March 3rd.
The 5th Field Company took over Weka Lines and the sector from the 11th, which moved by train and road for dismounted personnel and transport respectively, to Bainghem-le-Comte, about 14 miles from Boulogne.
CHAPTER III.
THE DEFENCE OF AMIENS.
“Every position should be strengthened as far as time admits with the object of reducing the number of men required to hold it, and of thereby adding to the strength of the general reserve.”