The Brigadier-General Commanding has much pleasure in forwarding the above remarks of the Army Commander, and directs that these be communicated to all ranks.
He considers that all credit and praise is due to the Officers and men of the Brigade.
(Signed) G. Surtees, 2nd Lieut.,
for Captain,
Acting Brigade Major, 164th Infantry Brigade.
6th August, 1917.
The process of “cleaning up” and re-equipment was begun. All Companies attended baths. Narratives were written by Company Commanders, Platoon Commanders and Section Leaders. From these a Battalion Report was compiled by Major Robathan and submitted to Brigade. Rain fell persistently throughout the day but the evening was fine. At 2.30 a.m. on the 5th August orders were received from Brigade for a move to an area on the Lines of Communication, and at 7.30 a.m. the Battalion left camp and proceeded to Abeele Station, where it halted for an hour until the time for entrainment arrived. This was completed by 11 a.m., and travelling via the Hazebrouck switch line and St. Omer the Battalion detrained at Audruicq, and was conveyed in motor lorries down the valley of the Hem, via Nordausques and Tournehem, to Bonningues-les-Ardres. Here excellent and commodious billets had been arranged for both Officers and men. The village had not been occupied by troops for some time, and the inhabitants gave the Battalion a splendid welcome. The well-wooded valley and surrounding moors were a delightful change from the flats of Flanders. With us in the same village were billeted the 8th Liverpools, while Brigade Headquarters were at Tournehem.
Reorganization of Companies was commenced. “A” Company under Lieut. Withey, “B” Company under 2nd Lieut. Evans, “C” Company under Capt. Procter, and “D” Company under 2nd Lieut. R. M. Senton. Reinforcements were arriving and were posted to the different Companies. On parade the Commanding Officer addressed the Battalion, expressing his pride in what they had done. A long and pleasant period ensued in these delighful surroundings, the time being devoted to training in the morning and to recreation in the afternoon and evening. A Sports’ Committee was formed and the utmost keenness was displayed in the various competitions. A Battalion Sports and Gymkhana was held on the afternoon of the 16th August, from 2 to 9 p.m. This was favoured by splendid weather, and there was a large gathering of interested spectators. There was a keen struggle for the Inter-Company Cup offered for competition by the Commanding Officer, this being eventually won on the following day, when the sports were continued, by the Transport. These wound up in the evening with a Battalion Concert, organized by 2nd Lieut. Mudie, a gifted entertainer, who himself contributed his little masterpiece “Three Hundred and Sixty-five Days.” A delightful addition to these light-hearted proceedings took place when orders were received from Brigade for forty-eight hours’ leave to be granted to Officers to visit the coast of France, and twenty-four hours’ leave to other Ranks to visit Calais. In the Brigade Sports, Battalion representatives were uniformly successful, the Tug-of-War, 2 Miles, 1 Mile, and Association Football falling to us.
Reinforcements continued to arrive, amongst them being Second-Lieuts. E. D. Howard, Veevers, White, E. Haslam, N. Whittaker, T. H. Pritchard, and R. G. Hatcher.
Training went on apace, and distinction was conferred on the Battalion when a Platoon, under 2nd Lieut. Ellwood, was selected to give a demonstration attack upon a strong point. Officers and N.C.O.’s from Divisions in the Fifth Army attended this demonstration, which went on for some days, and on 19th August, Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig visited the Division and saw the Battalion at work in field operations.