L. de J. Harvard joined the Battalion on the 15th, and on the 28th the Battalion moved up to Forest Camp so as to be ready to take its place in the line for the attack on the 31st.
The 2nd Battalion
2nd Batt. April.
The officers of the 2nd Battalion on April 1, 1917, were:
| Lieut.-Colonel C. K. C. de Crespigny, D.S.O. | Commanding Officer. |
| Major the Hon. W. R. Bailey, D.S.O. | Second in Command. |
| Lieut. A. H. Penn | Adjutant. |
| Lieut. G. G. M. Vereker | Transport Officer. |
| Quartermaster and Hon. Lieut. W. E. Acraman, D.C.M. | Quartermaster. |
| Capt. J. N. Buchanan | No. 1 Company. |
| Lieut. F. A. M. Browning | ” ” |
| Lieut. J. C. Cornforth | ” ” |
| 2nd Lieut. R. G. Briscoe | ” ” |
| 2nd Lieut. T. Smith | ” ” |
| Lieut. A. T. A. Ritchie, M.C. | No. 2 Company. |
| Lieut. the Hon. F. H. Manners | ” ” |
| Lieut. F. H. G. Layland-Barratt, M.C. | ” ” |
| Lieut. T. A. Combe | ” ” |
| Lieut. R. G. C. Napier | ” ” |
| Capt. C. F. A. Walker, M.C. | No. 3 Company. |
| Lieut. A. W. Acland | ” ” |
| Lieut. K. O’G. Harvard | ” ” |
| 2nd Lieut. Lord I. B. G. T. Blackwood | ” ” |
| 2nd Lieut. H. M. Wilson | ” ” |
| 2nd Lieut. I. FitzG. S. Gunnis | ” ” |
| Capt. G. C. FitzH. Harcourt-Vernon, D.S.O. | No. 4 Company. |
| Lieut. R. A. W. Bicknell | ” ” |
| Lieut. J. H. Jacob | ” ” |
| Lieut. J. Tabor | ” ” |
| Lieut. R. E. H. Oliver | ” ” |
| Capt. J. A. Andrews, M.C., R.A.M.C. | Medical Officer. |
| Hon. Captain A. Williams, with Regimental Band. | |
During the first week in April the 2nd Battalion remained in camp at Ginchy, and was employed in road-making. Later it moved to Rocquigny for a week, and then on to Bronfay to train. The monotony of company training was relieved by brigade competitions, and No. 11 Platoon under Lieutenant Gunnis succeeded not only in winning the prize, but also in being first in every event—a very remarkable performance.
May.
On May 9 the Battalion marched via Maricourt, Guillemont, and Ginchy to a camp near Lesbœufs, and three days later moved to Le Mesnil, where it worked on the railway. On the 20th it returned to Bronfay, and on the way halted for half-an-hour to enable the men to view the memorial to officers and men of the Regiment who had been killed there in September 1916. It consisted of an oak cross about ten feet high, made out of wood collected from the ruins of Lesbœufs. On May 22 the Battalion went to Sailly-le-Sec, where it remained till the end of the month, when it went by train via Cassel and Bavinchove to Renescure.
June.
During the first fortnight in June the 2nd Battalion remained at Renescure training and going through a course of musketry, and on the 16th marched to Winnezeele. The weather was fine, and though the heat was great the men stood the marching well. On the 18th the Battalion marched into Belgium, and went into bivouacs at Proven, where it remained for two days and then moved to Herzeele. On the 20th it attended a parade at which General Antoine, commanding the First French Army, presented