twenty places, died from his wounds the following day. There were no casualties among other ranks. The mornings were very foggy, and Lieut.-Colonel de Crespigny took advantage of this fact to reconnoitre the ground to his immediate front. On the 23rd the Battalion, after being relieved by the 21st Battalion of the Middlesex Regiment, returned to Maurepas, and on the 26th proceeded to Camp 107 at Billon, remaining there until March 14.
March.
The German retirement necessitated by the battle of the Somme had now begun, but it was impossible to tell at first what exactly the enemy’s intentions were. After four days at Maurepas the Battalion moved up into the line at Sailly-Saillisel, where no German could be seen and no gun heard. The outpost line had been advanced to within 1000 yards of Le Mesnil, and cavalry patrols were being pushed forward to establish touch with the enemy. The difficulty presented itself of how to make the guns and supplies keep pace with the advance, and all available battalions were employed in road-making.
One curious incident happened during this advance. Two Russian soldiers who had remained hidden after the German retirement were found in Etricourt. Originally taken prisoner on the Russian frontier, they had been transferred to the Western front, and employed in digging. Hearing the orders given by the German officers to retire, they managed to conceal themselves, and waited until the British troops arrived. They were overjoyed at finding themselves once more free, and delighted at their cordial reception.
The interesting duty of following up the Germans did not fall to the 2nd Battalion, which was employed till the end of the month in making roads and filling up shell-holes.
The 3rd Battalion
3rd Batt.
Jan.
The officers of the 3rd Battalion on January 1, 1917, were:
| Lieut.-Colonel A. F. A. N. Thorne, D.S.O. | Commanding Officer. |
| Major G. E. C. Rasch, D.S.O. | Second in Command. |
| Capt. O. Lyttelton, D.S.O. | Adjutant. |
| Lieut. the Hon. F. O. H. Eaton | Bombing Officer. |
| Lieut. the Hon. A. G. Agar-Robartes | Lewis Gun Officer. |
| Lieut. M. Duquenoy | Transport Officer. |
| Lieut. G. H. Wall | Quartermaster. |
| Capt. J. C. Craigie, M.C. | No. 1 Company. |
| Capt. I. St. C. Rose | No. 2 Company. |
| Lieut. G. F. R. Hirst | ” ” |
| Lieut. F. Anson | ” ” |
| Lieut. C. A. Hall | ” ” |
| Lieut. P. M. Walker, M.C. | No. 3 Company. |
| Lieut. W. W. S. C. Neville | ” ” |
| 2nd Lieut. L. Holbech | ” ” |
| Capt. R. W. Parker | No. 4 Company. |
| Lieut. W. G. Orriss | ” ” |
| Lieut. C. H. Bedford | ” ” |
| Capt. J. N. L. Thoseby, R.A.M.C. | Medical Officer. |
The 3rd Battalion came out of the trenches on January 2, and spent the next ten days training at Corbie, Billon Farm, and Priez Farm. This was followed by three uneventful days in the trenches from the 12th to the 15th, and again from the 21st to the 24th, after which it returned to Mericourt. On the 28th it marched