The morning of October 12th proved wet and chilly. As the balance of the transport had to entrain at 7.30 a.m. at Fremicourt, early breakfasts and earlier rising were essential; and by 7 a.m. we found ourselves standing about with nothing to do and nowhere to sit and two hours to pass before we could move. However, in due course the time arrived, and the battalion moved off, the new Brigadier taking the salute.
It took us two and a quarter hours to reach Slag Heap Station, Hermies, and when we did arrive there was no apparent prospect of a train. We sat down accordingly in a field and had some food, and about 12.30 p.m. a train meandered into the station and we set off. There seemed to be more than the usual doubt as to where and when we should arrive, but by the time we had passed Bapaume, Arras, and St. Pol we had a fair inkling that the journey would not be a very short one. Eventually at 4.30 a.m. on October 14th we arrived at Fouquereuil, where we were told to get out. A tiring march of two and a half hours on wet and slippery roads, and with empty stomachs, brought us at last to the little mining town of Ruitz. "A," "C," and "D" Companies were in billets in the village, while Headquarters and "B" Company had to climb a precipitous hill to a small hutted camp in a wood. This spot had been a Corps Headquarters, and consequently had an unusually pleasant aspect. The rest of that day was spent mainly in sleep; the next day mainly in washing.
THE FINEST OF FINE TRENCH JOURNALS
CHEERIO! ½ Fr.
No 1 August 18th 1918 12 Pages
EDITED BY JOHN W WHEWAY
ILLUSTRATED BY A. R. INGHAM AND A RUNNER
The Journal of "B" Coy Liverpool Rifles