The front line was about a line in length and was held by three companies, disposed as follows:—
Right: B Company, from Zillebeke Lake to the Warrington Road. Only one platoon occupied the front line posts, the remainder living in the dugouts along the western edge of the Lake.
Centre: D Company, from the Warrington Road to a point north-west of Moated Grange.
Left: A Company, from the flank of D Company to the Ypres-Roulers Railway, about 300 yards west of Hellfire Corner.
C Company was in reserve in a line about 500 yards in rear of the front line.
Battalion H.Q. was in the Ramparts of Ypres, not far from the Lille Gate. Never had such a commodious place been occupied before. When preparations were in progress for the Third Battle of Ypres in 1917, two divisional H.Q. had been constructed in the Ramparts, one near the Lille Gate and one near the Menin Gate. Now that the line had been withdrawn so far, these had come into use for battalions. There were rooms and to spare, lit up with electric light and comfortably furnished. Every H.Q. officer had his separate room, and there were also a fine large mess and a good office.
The front line was not very satisfactory. On the left it was continuous and good, but on the right posts were completely isolated. It was fortunate too that the weather was fine, for the ground was very low and would quickly have become water-logged. The dugouts on the west side of Zillebeke Lake provided any amount of good accommodation for B Company, but the other companies were not nearly so well off in that respect. The reserve line occupied by C Company was also inferior.
When the Battalion took over the line there were no communication trenches, and all movement was across the open. The outgoing unit—the 15th Battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps—stated that no movement in the open was advisable by day as enemy sniping was very accurate. This did not suit the Battalion at all, and, right from the start, officers began to make the usual tours of inspection. At first these were carried out with extreme care, all movement being done by crawling; but soon it was found that the enemy was very inactive, and, even before communication trenches were dug, movement in ones and twos became general.
Capt. H. H. AYKROYD, M.C.