This period at Louches requires little description, though it was probably the most real "rest" the battalion ever enjoyed. Training was of the more practical kind—"leap-frogging," counter-attack, consolidation, intensive digging, attack on strong posts, and so forth. Among these were judiciously inserted the usual drill, rifle exercises, physical training, and the like. Musketry was practised on a large scale at the Zouafques ranges. Baths at Nielles also played a salutary if uninteresting part in the life of the battalion; while trips to Calais proved a great attraction to officers and N.C.Os., that place being within easy reach by means of a light railway. A Sergeants' Rest Billet was instituted, and thither for short periods the sergeants in turn betook themselves, free for the time being from all military cares. It was a sign of the Commanding Officer's constant care for his men, and the arrangement was strongly approved.
It was odd to find oneself once more living what was after all the old life of home training areas. Here were no sudden alarms, but just the ordinary regulation routine. Afternoons were free, and football and musketry competitions soon blossomed into being.
While we were here Major H. K. Wilson, who had been long suffering from an injury to his ankle, the result of a collision with a lorry, proceeded to England on leave, and was there admitted to hospital. To our great regret, we saw him no more; he had been with us since the formation of the battalion. Another officer who left us at this time was Lieutenant Hodgkinson, a most gallant and popular officer, whom we were extremely sorry to lose. His venturous spirit led him to transfer to the R.F.C., where his career, we may be sure, was, if short, full of incident. He was, we understood, shot down near Valenciennes, and must have been a great loss to his Corps.
All good things come to an end in time—a law which fortunately applies also to their opposites—and 7.30 a.m. on December 8th found the battalion climbing once more into buses on the Crezeques—Autingues road to visit the area north of Ypres once more. After debussing we proceeded, two companies each, to two adjacent camps in the Proven area which rejoiced in the names of Privett and Portsdown, the latter being also the home of Battalion Headquarters. They were the usual camps of the area, no worse—possibly a little better—than the average. They consisted of Nissen huts. Training continued here for a few days prior to going into the line, which was visited by the Commanding Officer, accompanied by five officers, on December 12th for two days' instruction, from which they returned on December 14th.
The Adjutant, Captain Wurtzburg, reported from England for duty just before the battalion went into the line, and Captain C. W. Wilson in consequence gave up his duties as Adjutant and took over the appointment of Second-in-Command, with the subsequent acting rank of Major.
CHAPTER VI
PASSCHENDAELE (SECOND TIME)—ARMENTIÈRES—ST. HILAIRE (SECOND TIME)—ARREWAGE—FLEURBAIX
On December 16th, at 8.45 in the morning, the battalion moved off from camp to Proven Station, where we duly entrained for Boesinghe, the transport moving to Birbeck Camp, near Elverdinghe. On arrival at Boesinghe a dispute arose with the 2/5th K.L.R. as to the camp which each of us was to occupy, the orders being conflicting. Eventually we agreed to take Canal Bank Camp, and the 2/5th K.L.R. the more bleak and exposed Baboon Camp, which from our point of view was a satisfactory arrangement. As this was the second time the battalion had been in this area, there is no need to describe it further. It looked almost as inhospitable as ever, though certain traces of civilization had begun to appear. The enemy put a few shells in to the camp that night, but did no serious damage. The next day (December 17th) everyone was busy with preparations for going into the line. Gum-boots and extra water-bottles had to be drawn from Baboon Camp, and men had to be issued with "Tommy cookers," two days' preserved rations, and spare socks. The weather was now very cold, with occasional snow-storms, and offered a very poor prospect of pleasant conditions in the line. At 3.30 p.m. "D" Company moved, followed at quarter-hour intervals by "A" (support) Company, and "B" and "C" in reserve. To Battalion Headquarters the distance was about six miles, the whole route being along a duck-board track, called Clarges Street. The scene on either side of the track was the same—one unending chain of shell-holes, as usual in this part of the world. It was a long and tedious march. A whole battalion strung out on a tortuous and slippery track, with countless short twists to avoid shell-holes and greater twists to prevent accurate shelling, moves very slowly. There was also a long footbridge over the Steenbeck to be negotiated, and the various side tracks running off from the main one confused the guides.
Two companies were taken round by an alternative way along the remains of the road from Koekuit to Les Cinque Chemins, our destination. This proved our salvation, as on reaching the end of Clarges Street, near Les Cinque Chemins, the leading guide of the two companies ahead of Battalion Headquarters turned to the right along this same road, and promptly collided with "D" and "A" Companies coming up. But for this accident "B" and "C" with Battalion Headquarters, after many hours marching, might have arrived at Canal Bank Camp once more. The difficulty of finding one's way in the dark in these miserable districts baffles description. All landmarks are obliterated, and main roads are only recognizable under the most favourable conditions. Tracks lead off from the main way at frequent intervals, and there is nothing to show which is the correct way. The one thing usually certain is that one leads nowhere and the other the way you want to go. To discover which is which is rather a lengthy and tiresome business.