We also lost a valuable member of the battalion, Sergeant Lloyd, who was injured by his horse falling on him. He had done excellent work as Transport Sergeant.
At 9 p.m. on May 15th the battalion proceeded another stage from the line, and relieved the 2/4th Loyal North Lancashire Regiment in Rossignol Farm, the Brigade being now in Divisional Reserve. The men were accommodated in barns, and the officers in a range of pigstyes, which had concrete floors capable of being sluiced out with water; this was necessary, as the styes were none too free of vermin. The farm buildings were situated on the top of a steep hill, at the bottom of which ran a road and a railway. Up this railway nearly every night a 15-inch railway gun was brought, named "Coppernob" by the troops, and fired several rounds from a position just behind the farm, which was shaken to its foundations at every discharge. This was not conducive to rest, but a further annoyance was added when on two occasions flights of German aeroplanes came over all night long, dropping their "eggs" in the vicinity of the farm in their endeavours to destroy "Coppernob." Ultimately success rewarded their efforts, but in the meantime a number of bombs fell unpleasantly close to our "rest" billets. The time at Rossignol Farm, like most other periods in reserve, was spent mainly in working parties in the forward area. Apart from meaning practically no sleep, and nothing but hard work throughout the hours of darkness, these parties possess the added joy of long marches along roads not infrequently shelled. That this work is necessary is beyond question; that it was unpleasant is hardly less certain. Beer and Rum Trenches, which might be considered the main line of resistance if the front-line battalion were rushed, received most of our attention.
On May 17th Colonel Fletcher proceeded to Paris Plage Officers' Rest Station, in the hope that a few days of quiet recreation would compensate for the strain due to months of overwork, though the hope was not fulfilled.
On May 18th the defence scheme for the reserve brigade of the centre divisional front of the IV Corps was issued, and we plunged once more into the perplexing variety of the probable and possible actions the battalion could be called upon to undertake. From the very start these were sufficiently multifarious, and were finally grouped under three headings—first, to reinforce the right or left brigade in the line; secondly, to counter-attack in one of four directions; or, third and lastly, to form a defensive flank in one of two totally different places. We also learnt that on the message, "Take precautions," the battalion was to assemble at a given spot in "fighting order," and there await news as to the particular part it was to play. This elastic set of orders plunged everyone into a perfect fever of reconnaissance. Before long, amendments and appendices began to arrive, which contained reference to disposal of prisoners, extra stretcher-bearers, and so forth, which certainly gave one the impression that the attack was due shortly. Most people hoped devoutly that it would develop before we entered the front line again, as the battalion holding the line when an offensive starts has a poor time at the best.
On the 20th "C" and "D" Companies moved up to the trenches at the Chateau de la Haie, taking with them the Lewis guns of "A" and "B" Companies in addition, and relieved two companies of the 2/7th K.L.R., who were to occupy Beer Trench, previously not held.
Further orders then arrived, detailing the action if the battalion had to occupy Beer Trench; but on May 21st, before any more of these orders arrived, the battalion proceeded up the line, taking over this time the right sector, and relieving the 2/4th South Lancashire Regiment.
The period behind the line, if not exactly restful, what with incessant working parties and a general feeling of excitement produced by the endless preparations to foil the Germans when they attacked, had yet been distinctly refreshing after the wet and miserable trenches which we had occupied in the line. The weather had been fine and warm, and all the countryside was pleasant with the fresh smell and bright colours of advancing spring. Baths and clean underclothing, better food, the Divisional Band, together with practice on the range and normal routine, had all helped to send the battalion back to the line in splendid fettle once more.
The relief was complete at 2 a.m., but this time one cannot add "without incident." The ration dump was heavily shelled, and, to the great loss of the battalion, Regimental Quartermaster-Sergeant Cousins, but recently appointed to that important post, was killed, and another man wounded. Cousins had been with the battalion from very early days, and had risen steadily. It was indeed a tragedy that, on reaching a post which one may call comparatively safe, he should then have been killed.