At times we also occupied the huts built on the side of the railway embankment. These were very comfortable, for, being on a steep slope, they were always dry, and it was almost impossible for the enemy to hit them. We were also bivouacked beside the old ponds and gardens of Blangy Park. The weather was very warm, and both officers and men thoroughly enjoyed another spell of bathing and basking in the sun. The scene had the appearance of some picture by an old master with its tall trees, grassy banks and sunny pools, where naked gods reclined and bathed. Sometimes a shell would fall amongst us, but luckily they never did any harm, as they generally hit the water or buried themselves in the soft ground. The next occupants, however, received more attention from the Boche, and were inclined to blame us for too much movement. The true cause of this was not our movements, but the fact that a battery of artillery was brought up into the woods near the ponds before we left.

During one of our spells in the trenches about this time we removed a large gun from a German concrete battery position in the front area, which had been captured during the Battle of Arras. All the work had to be done at night by hand labour, and as the gun was a considerable weight it was some job, but we finally got it out and towed it back over the grass. It is a peculiar old French gun made of brass. It had been rebored by the Germans and fitted with a 5.9 tube. We finally got it sent home as a trophy along with its carriage. We were asked to lend it to the War Trophy's Exhibition in London, but decided instead to present it to the town of Inverness, as the capital of the Highlands, and also as a proof that we had not forgotten the many kindnesses the Battalion received there before it came out, and there it now lies.

On going back into Arras we received with much regret the information that, owing to the shortage of men and recruits, a large number of units were to be amalgamated. As we were the Junior Battalion of the Cameron Highlanders, it was decided that we should unite with the 6th Battalion. It is hardly necessary to say that this news was very far from welcome, not that we had anything against the 6th, but because the 7th Battalion, which had made such a name for itself, was to cease to exist. It was decided by the G.O.C. Division that the O.C. of the 7th Battalion should take over the command of the 6th, and he also gave permission for him to transfer what officers and men he might desire. This was a great concession, as originally the order had been that only the deficiencies in officers and men of the Senior Battalion should be made up. The decision was a sound one, as by this means a splendid Battalion was constructed.

The remains of the 7th Battalion were to be made into a training Battalion for the American Army. It was, therefore, possible for officers and men, who were either war worn or had seen a considerable amount of fighting, and deserved a rest from the fighting area, to be sent with the training cadre. This left a large number of officers and men to be disposed of, and it was no easy task to decide whom to keep and whom to let go. The C.O. was much touched with the devotion and loyalty to the Battalion shown by many. Wherever he went he would be waylaid by anxious applicants, who would beseech him to keep them, some even with tears in their eyes, for, although it was promised that any who might be sent to the base would be kept as drafts for the Camerons only, still they had had so many experiences of similar promises they did not believe it. Their disbelief proved eventually to be well founded, for many of them were finally transferred to other units. It was a trying time. Everyone who was remaining had, so far as possible, to put on a cheery countenance and to argue that it was all for the best, still many of them felt the parting with old comrades and tried friends as much as those who had to leave.

On the 10th June the C.O. said farewell to those of the Battalion proceeding to join the 39th Cadre Division to provide a training staff for the U.S.A. Army. It was a sad moment, which certainly he and probably many others who were present will never forget. The transport, of which Captain Mauchlin was so justly proud, was ordered to proceed to the base. Many exchanges took place with friendly transport officers in the Division, so that the transport which left our lines for the base, under Captain Mauchlin, was transformed into a collection of the most ordinary looking horses drawing limbers and waggons very far short of the splendid transport of the 7th Camerons. No sadder man left the Battalion than the transport officer. He had a great knowledge of his work, and took keen interest in his transport, which, by his untiring energy, had been brought to a high state of efficiency.

The following officers were transferred from the 7th to the 6th Battalion:—

Of these the C.O. was the only original officer who had joined in September, 1914, and proceeded overseas with the Battalion as Captain Commanding "B" Company. In addition to him there were about ten men who had embarked with the Battalion in July, 1915.

Thus does the official history of the 7th Battalion come to an end. It might be as well, however, before closing, to follow roughly the training Battalion's movements until it was broken up, and also to refer shortly to the doings of the 6th Battalion, which now contained many of the 7th.

The training staff proceeded to Calais, via Hazebrouck, where they were affiliated to the 3rd Battalion 119th Regiment A.E.F. They at once entered upon their duties as instructors, which they carried on up to the 2nd July, when the American Division left the area, and the training staff moved to Veuse. Here they carried on instructional training lectures. On the 25th they moved to Watten for the 7th Corps Reinforcement Camps. On the 30th they proceeded to Arneke, where they were joined by a Battalion of Reinforcements for the 51st Division, and worked on the back area in the 2nd Army Front, the Battalion being called the 19th Corps Reinforcement Battalion. From Arneke they went to St. Eloi area. They occupied different camps in this area, some of them being very bad. On the 7th, 348 other ranks, conducted by 6 officers, left for the 51st Division, and the remainder of the reinforcements and the cadre moved into billets at La Cloche. On the 9th the remainder of the reinforcements were ordered to rejoin the 51st Division, and orders were received that what remained of the 7th Camerons training staff had been placed at the disposal of the D.A.G. for reinforcements. On the 12th of August orders came to return to the 39th Division to billets in Listergaux. On the 13th August instructions were given that the 7th Cameron Highlanders training staff should be broken up, all officers and other ranks who remained being sent as reinforcements to the 6th Battalion, with the exception of Lieut.-Colonel Anderson, who took over command of the 8th Seaforths and the Adjutant and Orderly Room Sergeant, who were sent to Rouen Base to wind up and check records, all stores being handed into Ordnance.