Our new situation brought out a fresh scheme for holding the Red Line, but this did not cancel the old one, being merely an alternative. Reconnoitring became the order of the day, and in addition the battalion marched out daily en masse to work on the defences in the vicinity of Coigneux and Couin, where we were busy digging and wiring.
The addition of four more Lewis guns to the battalion about this time, bringing the total up to twenty-four guns, meant the creation of large classes for gunners, of which all companies had been getting short. The packing of these guns was also a difficulty. An emergency transport scheme was in existence, which limited the battalion transport considerably, and worked out at half a limber per company. These special vehicles with the battalion's essential battle equipment, were kept loaded night and day. In addition, dumps of preserved rations were formed, and water-bottles always had to be kept full.
On April 20th Captain Fell, who had been injured at St. Hilaire, returned from England and resumed command of "D" Company, which had temporarily been commanded by 2nd-Lieutenant Carr.
Some interesting tests as to the comparative merits in point of speed of Lewis guns and rifle fire were carried out. A Lewis gun, with a second gun to carry on if it had a stoppage, was matched against eight rifles for five minutes' rapid fire, and it was found that, unless a really good man was firing the gun, the total number of hits for the riflemen exceeded the total for the Lewis gun. If the gunner was good, the gun beat the rifle, but only by a small margin.
Each company was now organized into three ordinary platoons and a Lewis gun platoon, the latter under a Company Lewis Gun Officer, and the whole more or less under the supervision of the Battalion Lewis Gun Officer. From the training point of view this plan has many advantages, but whether these would be as great in action is open to question.
The working parties were now employed in the vicinity of Rossignol Farm; and later, on a new switch line, which was the outcome of a suggestion from the Commanding Officer, who had a very remarkable eye for weakness in a trench system. Some of the ground was chalk and flint, other parts consisted of excellent soft soil, with the result that the work which composed the daily task varied exceedingly. Never since the Margate days had the battalion been so good at digging as they became at this time. Lieutenant Jones, our Pioneer Officer, being an expert, proved invaluable in instructing the inexperienced.
A sudden outbreak of influenza, or some kindred ailment, swept over the battalion at this time to a very alarming degree. We had a sick parade daily of over 100, and admissions to hospital amounted to about 250 in a few days. Lieutenant Reed, our invaluable American Medical Officer, did everything he could to check the disease. Rest stations were established in Pas village to take the milder cases, isolation was practised, changes of diet prescribed—everything, in short, was done that was possible—but the complaint ran through the battalion like wildfire. The consequence was that we lost a very serious proportion of our best N.C.Os. and men, for those who go to hospital very seldom rejoin their old battalion. The field ambulance tried to save what they could, but, with the imminence of a battle, they dared not have their dressing-stations full of sick. That the lice, coupled with the bad conditions of living, were responsible there can be little doubt; nor that, granted reasonable facilities for bathing and disinfecting simultaneously, and not piecemeal, we might have stamped out the lice. However, the Higher Command refused the special facilities, and our losses were consequently great. It made things very difficult, as N.C.Os. and warrant officers had to be replaced almost daily; and the protective barrage that fell for an hour at dawn each day was a sufficient reminder of possibilities ahead. So loud and emphatic was this on some mornings that we were almost convinced that the threatened offensive had opened, but on each occasion the barrage died away again as suddenly as it had commenced.
During the period in Pas Wood we learnt that Colonel Fletcher had been awarded the Legion of Honour. We were glad to think that he had received this recognition of the splendid work he was doing.
On April 29th our manifold defence schemes were further complicated by the issue of a counter-attack scheme, in conjunction with tanks, for the recovery of Beer Trench, the old British front line in front of Gommecourt, in the event of the German attack succeeding to that extent. This necessitated the pegging-out of assembly positions in due course in the vicinity of the Chateau de la Haie. Meanwhile the old scheme for the manning of the Red Line was put into force on April 28th, the whole Brigade turning out for this practice, which was carried out without incident.
Our early return to front line work was now indicated by instructions to send an advance party into the Gommecourt sector for twenty-four hours' attachment to the 8th Battalion Manchester Regiment. This was done on May 1st, the party returning on May 2nd, but, unfortunately, less Sergeant Roberts, of "C" Company, a most popular N.C.O., who was shot through the head while going round the sector.