“G.O.C. 55th Division, France.
“Brigadier-General Stuart and all ranks West Lancashire Reserve Brigade send heartiest congratulations to West Lancashire Division on their splendid success.”
(Signed) T. Rose Price,
Lieut.-Colonel,
General Staff, 55th Division.
27th September, 1917.
While it is true that virtue is its own reward, and kindles a pure unquenchable flame in men’s hearts, it would be idle to deny that these cordial messages of appreciation of their sacrifices cheered the Battalion profoundly and steeled their determination for further efforts in the stern task yet to be accomplished.
On the 25th we spent a day cleaning up and resting. At 1 p.m. Major Robathan addressed all Officers and other ranks who had been in battle. Reinforcements as follows were received during the day: Second-Lieuts. L. R. Keighley, J. R. Rundle, H. Walkden, A. J. Thorpe, F. J. Shuker, R. L. Purnell, B. H. Gough, and 18 other Ranks. At 9.30 p.m. we moved by march route to Hopoutre Station and entrained for Bapaume West, in the Lens area. We arrived here at 12.30 p.m. on the 26th, and then marched via Bapaume—Le Transloy—Rocquigny and Bus, to Ytres (not to be confused with Ypres) to a camp at Vallulart Wood. This was a long and tiring march; 15 men dropped out, but every one of these rejoined. Here Platoon and Company training of an easy nature was carried out until the 2nd October, when the Battalion was again on the move. At 9.15 a.m., accompanied by the Band and Transport, we marched out of camp and proceeding via Etricourt—where we marched past the G.O.C. 55th Division—Manancourt—where the Brigadier-General Commanding 164th Brigade watched the Battalion marching—Nurlu—Aizecourt-le-Bas to Longavesnes where we arrived in billets at 12.50 p.m. The weather set in cold and wet and was a disagreeable change from the perfect conditions we had enjoyed for several weeks. Captain A. P. Procter was temporarily in command of the Battalion.
Platoon and Company training was resumed and routes to the new trench sector at St. Emilie were reconnoitred. A rousing Rugby football match was played between the Battalion and Flying Corps Squadron XV. The “Aces” were too good for the “King’s Own,” and we went under by 13 points to 5. Major Robathan rejoined from hospital, together with 12 Officer reinforcements. On the 12th October we marched into Brigade Reserve at St. Emilie, under wet and unpleasant conditions, relieving the 6th King’s Liverpools, while on the following evening the Battalion took over trenches from the 7th King’s Liverpool Regiment in the right sub-sector of the Right Sector at St. Emilie. Dispositions were as follows: Right front line Cat Post “C” Company. Left front line Gillemont Farm, “A” Company, Support Company, Duncan and Doleful Posts, “B” Company. Reserve Company “D” Company and Battalion Headquarters at Ken Lane. At 9.50 p.m. the relief was completed with no casualties. We found the trenches in very fair condition, but much draining, reveting and duck-boarding required.
Oct.–Nov., 1917