This pleasant interlude lasted for a fortnight, when once again rumours of change filled the air. These duly materialised, and on the 15th the Battalion left Candas at 9.30 a.m. and marched to Thieures, a distance of 11 miles, arriving at 1.30 p.m. after a good march, the weather being in our favour. There we went into billets for the night. Leaving Thieures at 9 a.m. on the following morning we set out on the most villainous march it is possible to imagine. The weather was appalling, with continuous storms of rain accompanied by a gale, and it was a limp and sorry crowd that hobbled into Sombrin at 2 p.m. and dissolved from view into billets already prepared to dry itself to the best of the means available. No further moves being contemplated for the present we settled down for some days, these being devoted to Battalion training. Sergeant Adamson was detached to Brigade Headquarters as Instructor at the Brigade Bombing School. Lieut.-Colonel Carleton took over temporary command of the 164th Brigade and the command of the Battalion consequently devolved on Captain J. Caddy. Training continued but was much interfered with by the weather. It was very cold with heavy snow and frost, the roads being in very bad condition. At 3 p.m. the Battalion left Sombrin and moved to Monchiet, only a matter of six miles, but another awful march, due to causes different in character to the last march, but even more trying in their effects. It blew a blizzard and was very cold. The roads were in bad order, very tiring for the men, and nearly impossible for the transport. Lieut. Neill had a terrible time, but eventually got his transport through. We passed other transport hopelessly ditched and during the night sent parties back to help them out of their difficulties. The snow was quite deep. At Monchiet there joined us a taciturn youth who on introduction, emerged as Lieut. Wilson, R.A.M.C., who remained with us as locum tenens for Lieut. Gatchell, our Medical Officer, who was now on leave. Lieut. Wilson was to join us permanently at a later date and loom large in the life of the Battalion—but that is anticipating. At 5 p.m. on the 26th February we left Monchiet and marched to the trenches, relieving the 10th Liverpool Scottish in the Blamont and Ravine trenches in front of Bretencourt.
The area in which we now found ourselves formed a portion of the large re-entrant of which the tortured city of Arras was the apex. The lines of trenches fell away from Arras, in a north-westerly direction towards Aubigny and Loos, and in a south-westerly direction towards Blairville and beyond. A great national highway ran arrow-straight from Doullens to Arras, and in moving from Sombrin and Monchiet on the north the Battalion had to cross this highway on its way to the trenches, situated about ten miles to the south-west of Arras. After crossing this highway the land dipped sharply to the village below. The upper portion, being in view of the enemy and subject to his attentions, was traversed by a communication trench which it were well to utilise in daylight. The village, lying snugly at the lower end of this communication trench, rejoiced in at least two names, if not three. Officially it was known as Bretencourt, but was equally well known as Rivière. It was only about a mile from the line, but many of its inhabitants still clung on to their possessions. Owing to its peculiar position it was comparatively safe, but was subject to high angle fire at times, especially from machine guns. Leaving the village the route rose sharply, past the White Chateau occupied by Brigade Headquarters, and so to the last communication trench. This leads to “The Quarry,” a ready-made shelter, where Battalion Headquarters and the First Field Dressing Station are located, thence to the front line.
The Battalion held the right sub-sector of the 164th Brigade front, with the 166th Brigade on the right and 165th Brigade on the left. In front was Blairville in German hands. Intervening, and extending for some 200 yards was No Man’s Land, in the middle of which was a considerable clump of osiers, in which patrols from both sides were wont to indulge in grim little games of hide and seek.
The enemy was quiet. It was still snowing hard and the trenches were in a very bad state owing to the thaw which had set in. All available men were set to work but this seemed to have very little effect. Material was scarce, and with more snow falling things were serious. Work was incessant and by the 29th there was a little improvement. A few whizz-bangs were sent over by the enemy on the 1st March but did no damage.
Major-General Jeudwine, Commanding 55th Division visited the trenches and was well pleased with the work done by the Battalion. On the 2nd we were relieved by the 8th Liverpool (Irish) and marched back to Monchiet. It was a poor march, the men being fatigued after incessant work and bad weather in the trenches. We rested the following day, occupying the time in much-needed cleaning of equipment. Snow commenced to fall at 8 p.m. and continued all through the night. This lay to a great depth next morning and the Battalion was engaged in clearing the roads round Monchiet, working on the Gouy-Beaumetz and Doullens-Arras roads. Second-Lieut. Bowman and 7 O.R. proceeded to Wisques for a Lewis Gun Course. Next morning broke very fine and many aeroplanes were about. The roads were in bad condition and the day was again devoted to their improvement. On the 8th we marched back to the trenches and relieved the 8th Liverpools. The trenches were again very bad and much work had to be done. The evening was quiet but there was some little sniping on the 13th and Company Sergeant-Major Gendle was fatally wounded. On the 16th we went into Brigade Reserve in Bretencourt village. Second-Lieuts. James Fisher, Keller and Hodkinson here rejoined us, the latter from the Base Hospital after his rough-riding mishap at Longpré. Second-Lieuts. Ferns, Thorpe, Lees and McClinton and 43 other ranks also joined. Lieut. H. A. Brocklebank proceeded on leave, and Lieut. W. C. Neill acted as Adjutant.
Mch.–Apl.–May, 1916
For the next three months we remained under these conditions, and in the same area. From the Blamont trenches to billets, these alternating between Monchiet, Bretencourt and finally Simoncourt, the transport having for some time been located at the latter village.
June, 1916
It would be churlish to leave Bretencourt and not mention its popular and prosperous estaminet, the Maison des Glaces, the Glass House, admirably managed by three sisters, Marie, Irene and Adele (or was it Eugenie?). It is ungallant to be remiss with mademoiselle’s name, but more than one could assist as an aide memoire. One of our young Officers was her beau cavalier, and it was a melting sight to see the tender passages between the two. “Monsieur le Bosche” was the somewhat startling endearment applied to our gallant, probably accounted for by the fact that he wore glasses. Alas, Mademoiselle would be distrait when she learnt that her impetuous admirer, headstrong and bold as ever, was so soon to make the supreme sacrifice. The interludes were good, the atmosphere genial, and the wines above reproach. The weather had vastly improved and we were now free from that portion of our troubles. The enemy, and ourselves, were usually quiet, operations being confined to reconnoitring patrols. Reconnoitring on our part had indeed become the standard pastime, and many were the ghostly forays around the Osier Bed, to the wire beyond. These forays were aided and abetted, indeed led by the C.O. Whatever the wisdom of his personal indulgence as a shikari, Col. Carleton’s practice coincided with his precepts. Emulation was soon forthcoming and Lieut. Clarke emerged as the principal Battalion fire-eater. It became recognised later that no raiding party was complete without Capt. “Jat” Clarke and the incomparable Private “Jerry” Holmes. This taking of gratuitous risks by Col. Carleton was not confined to No Man’s Land. From billets in Bretencourt he was wont to canter, attended by Capt. Caddy, out to morning exercise on the sloping field already referred to, through which wound the first communication trench. This was admirably adapted in normal times for putting a blood mare through her beautiful paces, a charming spectacle, and one which may have appealed to the Germans in whose view it was, for they refrained from using it as a target. One of this remarkable man’s recipes for successful campaigning was the importance of small things. The Headquarters Mess became transformed under his tutelage and received the admiring soubriquet “The Quarry Grill.” For some time it had been clear that we were not to have his services for long, and on the 12th Col. Carleton left to take over Command of the 98th Infantry Brigade, Major G. B. Balfour taking temporary command of the Battalion. On this date, too, Major-General Jeudwine, Commanding 55th Division, made a most thorough inspection of the Battalion.
June–July, 1916.