On the 2nd August, 1917, the remnant of the Battalion was relieved by the 9th Royal Irish Rifles (36th—Ulster—Division), and assembled at a camp near VLAMERTINGHE, where they found the members of B team and food, and had a good sleep. At 10 p.m. that night we moved in motor ’buses to the WATOU area, where we took over our old camp. Lieutenant G. M. Fismer, R.A.M.C., and one Other Rank had been wounded in coming out of the line, and Lieutenant J. E. Ratcliffe reported as Medical Officer; on the following day Lieutenant W. L. Price and Second Lieutenants R. Grisdale and A. P. Smith and 108 Other Ranks reported as reinforcements.
On the 5th we marched to ABEELE, where we entrained and travelled via ST. OMER and WATTEN to AUDRUICQ, arriving there about 5 p.m. Here we found lurries waiting to take us to our new billeting area, AUDREHEM, a pleasant village just big enough to hold us.
On the 7th, Second Lieutenant Holden came back from attachment to the R.E.’s with 23 Other Ranks, and Captain C. M. Denton and 34 Other Ranks reported as reinforcements. During the next few days Captain Houghton, Second Lieutenant Vincent and Second Lieutenant Swaine rejoined us and Major de Wend Fenton. Second Lieutenant F. Shippobottom and Second Lieutenant A. B. Fergie reported for duty along with nine Other Ranks, while on the 18th Second Lieutenant J. Hailwood and A. Martin, and on the 21st Second Lieutenants A. H. Doleman, S. A. H. Pruden, and Iners joined us, followed by Second Lieutenants H. W. C. Griffiths, H. Dance, and J. Oldham on the 22nd.
The following honours were announced for gallantry in action in the recent battle:—
| BAR TO D.S.O. | Lieutenant-Colonel R. Hindle, D.S.O. | |
| MILITARY CROSS | Second Lieutenant H. C. Vincent, B Company. | |
| Second Lieutenant H. Lonsdale, C Company. | ||
| D.C.M. | 24908 | Lance-Corporal E. Ashton, A Company. |
| 201260 | Lance-Corporal T. Butcher, A Company. | |
| MILITARY MEDAL | 200057 | Sergeant J. Heaps, Headqrs. |
| 201530 | Lance-Corporal P. Norris, B Company. | |
| 200643 | Sergeant J. E. Cookson, D Company. | |
| 34879 | Sergeant J. Cosgrove, C Company. | |
| 200809 | Corporal F. Pitcher, B Company. | |
| 200414 | Lance-Corporal W. H. Clarkson, Headqrs. | |
| 202761 | Private J. Spencer, D Company. | |
| 200146 | Private J. Bates, Transport. | |
| 200357 | Private J. H. Parkinson, Transport. | |
| 12910 | Private D. Rathbone, C Company. | |
| 31987 | Lance-Corporal J. Walmsley, A Company. | |
It is fashionable among fighting men to belittle the honours which they themselves have earned, knowing as they do that many individuals employed at bases have received decorations which were never meant to be conferred for anything except gallantry in action, while others who have abundantly deserved them have either died before they were granted or have had no witness surviving to report their conduct; it is therefore only fair to mention that when “immediate awards,” such as the above, are made to fighting men, it is as a result of reports sent in by eyewitnesses, which, in our Battalion at any rate, were tested by cross-examining those mentioned in them as to the deeds of others, the resulting list of recommendations being further checked and often cut down by Brigade.
We enjoyed our stay at AUDREHEM, knowing that our last battle had raised us to the status of Storm Troops, and that when we moved up again it would be for another attack and not back to the demoralising influences of trench life. With this in view we carefully reorganised and trained, all ranks working together keenly with one end in view—efficiency, with the result that in six weeks a tired, straggling, muddy, shaken remnant was transformed once more into a smart Battalion, well organised and equipped, and trained with special reference to attacking concrete blockhouses. Officers daily attended lectures by one of their number on some phase of the attack, and Company Commanders held daily conferences of their N.C.O.’s and senior Privates, so that however heavy might be the casualties among leaders, someone might remain with the necessary knowledge to carry on. Every fine day Companies marched with their cookers to the training area at GUEMY, and remained there all day doing progressive field training; there was football, boxing, a Divisional horse show, and other delights, as well as Brigade days, and the Commander-in-Chief himself came one day to see us at work; so the days slipped by until the 14th September. Captain Duckworth went as Second in Command to the 1/8th King’s Liverpool Regiment, and various other Officers left us sick or to other units, so that when B team had been detailed the following Officers moved up to take part in the attack:—
| Lieutenant-Colonel R. Kindle, D.S.O. | Commanding. | |
| Captain A. T. Houghton | Second in Command. | |
| Captain R. N. Buckmaster | Adjutant. | |
| Lieutenant Bardsley | Transport Officer. | |
| Second Lieutenant Brooke | Intelligence Officer. | |
| Second Lieutenant Whitehouse | Signalling Officer. | |
| Lieutenant Radcliffe, R.A.M.C. | Medical Officer. | |
| Lieutenant E. G. Baker |  | A Company. |
| Second Lieutenant A. P. Smith | ||
| Second Lieutenant H. Dance | ||
| Second Lieutenant J. Oldham | ||
| Captain F. W. S. Baker | | B Company. |
| Major Fenton | ||
| Second Lieutenant Holmes | ||
| Second Lieutenant Fergie | ||
| Captain R. H. Tautz | | C Company. |
| Second Lieutenant Pruden | ||
| Second Lieutenant Grisdale | ||
| Lieutenant Holden | | D Company. |
| Lieutenant Price | ||
| Second Lieutenant Martin | ||
| Second Lieutenant Myers | ||
On the 14th the Battalion, including B team, marched to AUBRUICQ, proceeding thence by train to a point near YPRES, where we took over a bivouac camp near GOLDFISH CHATEAU—a muddy field with pits dug all over it, each just big enough to shelter two or three men, and covered with sheets of corrugated iron.
