SERVICE OVERSEAS—HEAVY FIGHTING ALL ALONG
THE FRONT, AND A TRIUMPHAL MARCH INTO GERMANY.
SERVICE OVERSEAS—HEAVY FIGHTING ALL ALONG
THE FRONT, AND A TRIUMPHAL MARCH INTO GERMANY.[ToC]
The day of the move overseas arrived. This was on November 15, 1915, when the regimental transport entrained at Tidworth for Havre, followed one day later by the Battalion, which proceeded to Folkestone, Boulogne being reached on November 17, Ostrohove Rest Camp being the first objective. No time, however, was wasted there, for on November 18 the Battalion entrained at Pont-de-Briques, joining the transport which had come up from Havre.
It was at Steenbecque, reached a day later, and where billets were found in barns and farmhouses, that the sound of artillery in action was first heard by the Battalion. Four days were occupied here in sorting things out generally, the companies parading, route marching, and being inspected.
On November 23 a move was made to Busnes, the first part of the route being over badly cut up second-class roads, and the remainder on pavé. The men, the war diary tells us, marching in greatcoats, and carrying blankets, found the march very trying. Billets in the area La Miquellerie were reached at 3 p.m. Distance, 11½ miles.