From the beginning of May to the middle of August the Brigade never left these two sectors, Gorre and Essars, and during this time there was no change in the front line.  It was seldom that anything happened of sufficient importance to find its way into the day’s communique, but every tour was full of interesting incidents, all of which show how the warfare was rapidly changing.

Our first relief was remarkable for the fact that we took over at Battalion Headquarters two cows (and with them a daily supply of fresh milk), for whom L/Cpl.  “Pat” Collins was self-appointed cowman—­while the left Company found a plentiful supply of eggs.  A stray mule was found wandering round the outposts on the “wrong” side of the Beuvry river, while in the farm actually in the front line we discovered still alive after 21 days without food—­a cow and calf, two bullocks, an old white horse and a pig; they were in a terrible condition of starvation and had to be killed by the Intelligence Officer, 2nd Lieut.  Hewson, who found it a most unpleasant task.  There were of course many dogs—­one, at a cottage in no man’s land, being particularly unpleasant for patrolling.  In addition to Lance-Corporal Collins’ cows, two others and a goat were led out by Private Muggleton.  The goat came to an untimely end, being done to death in Vaudricourt Park by its Company Commander, outside whose tent it was noisily bewailing its captivity.

In front of us, there was little or no wire, and our first encounter with the enemy was on the 6th of May when a Corporal and three men of “D” Company went out to wire their post and marched straight on to a patrol of about 15 enemy waiting for them.  The enemy opened fire at close range and the wiring party threw down their wire and replied.  Two of the party were hit in the first few seconds and a third—­Private Smith—­who had come to us from the 2nd/5th in January—­was attacked by two Germans and carried off struggling.  The Corporal fired at the enemy who then made off, leaving one dead man behind them.  The Platoon Commander (2nd Lieut.  W.M.  Cole) came up and, after assisting the wounded back, set off to look for Smith.  Except, however, for the dead man, nothing could be found of the enemy, and by dawn the search was given up as hopeless.  The following night Smith returned.  It appears that the enemy meeting more opposition than they expected, made off as soon as they had got their prisoner, and, as there were plenty of bullets about, the remainder of the patrol, leaving prisoner and escort to follow as best they could, hurried back to their lines.  Smith watched his chance; suddenly stooping, he kicked one man amidships, seized his rifle, gave the other a jab with the bayonet, and ran for his life.  He got away, but had to lie up until the next evening to get back.  For this he was awarded the Military Medal.