The 5th of April was particularly noisy.  At 3-0 a.m. we discharged a large number of gas projectors on to Bois “Dixhuit” and Cite St. Auguste, to which the enemy replied by shelling our reserve line, fortunately doing no damage.  In the evening, however, he replied in earnest, and, just after “C” Company had relieved “B” in the front line, he put down a “box barrage” round their posts.  Coloured lights were fired in all directions, the noise was terrific, and Captain Moore, expecting a raid, sent the “S.O.S.”  This was promptly answered, and within a few minutes the gunners were hammering away vigorously at the enemy’s lines, until he stopped shooting.  Our front line was damaged in many places, but by extraordinary good fortune we escaped without a casualty.  During the day, however, “A” Company lost another very good N.C.O. in Serjeant Putt, who was wounded and had to go to Hospital.

Throughout the 6th the shelling of Loos continued, and the following morning, in retaliation to a heavy gas projection on our part, the enemy turned his attention again to our front line.  This time we were less fortunate, and a Lewis gun post of “D” Company was wiped out by a direct hit:  two of the gunners, C.H.  Payne and T.P.  Hardy, were killed.  In the evening, in spite of a slight West wind, the enemy poured blue cross gas shells into Loos, and much of the gas again drifted back across the lines.  During the night, Lieut.  Banwell, exploring the enemy’s lines, single-handed ran into three of the enemy, who were almost on top of him before he could use his weapons.  However, he managed to make his way out, and returned to our lines, having lost nothing worse than a little breath.

On the 8th of April, the enemy’s artillery was never silent.  Mustard gas was fired into the plain East of Vermelles and Philosophe almost without intermission, while Mazingarbe and Les brebis were similarly bombarded, only with larger shells. 2nd Lieut.  Todd and Serjeant Yeabsley were both gassed with the transport, the latter so badly that he was several weeks in Hospital.  The following morning in a thick mist the enemy attacked the Portuguese and drove them from their trenches, pushing his advance Westwards towards Estaires and Locon.  The mustard gas bombardment of the plain still continued, but the front lines were comparatively quiet.  That night we were relieved by the 4th Battalion, and went once more into Brigade support.  After relief, Capt.  A.G.  Moore, M.C., and forty-three other ranks were sent to Hospital with gas poisoning.  This was not due to any one bombardment, but to the fact that for the past week “Hill 70” had hardly ever been entirely free from gas, and though never in very large quantities this had gradually taken effect.  Capt.  Moore was sent to England, where for some months he was seriously ill with gas poisoning, and never returned.  He and Capt.  Shields commanded Companies longer than any other officers in the Battalion.  No amount of tedious trench warfare could shake their enthusiasm or damp their spirits, “soft jobs” and six months’ rest were not for them; they simply stayed with their Companies until wounds took them to England—­a really magnificent record.