Our first sector of trenches consisted of two disconnected lengths of front line, called trenches 14 and 15, behind each of which a few shelters, which were neither organised for defence nor even splinter-proof, were known as 14 S and 15 S—­the S presumably meaning Support.  On the left some 150 yards from the front line a little circular sandbag keep, about 40 yards in diameter and known as S.P. 1, formed a Company Headquarters and fortified post, while a series of holes covered by sheets of iron and called E4 dug-outs provided some more accommodation—­of a very inferior order, since the slightest movement by day drew fire from the snipers’ posts on “Hill 76.”  As this hill, Spanbroek Molen on the map, which lies between Wulverghem and Wytschaete was held by the Boche, our trenches which were on its slopes were overlooked, and we had to be most careful not to expose ourselves anywhere near the front line, for to do so meant immediate death at the hands of his snipers, who were far more accurate than any others we have met since.  To add to our difficulties our trench parapets, which owing to the wet were entirely above ground, were composed only of sandbags, and were in many places not bullet proof.  There were large numbers of small farm houses all over the country (surrounded by their five-months’ dead live stock), and as the war had not yet been in progress many months these houses were still recognizable as such.  Those actually in the line were roofless, but the others, wonderfully preserved, were inhabited by support Companies, who, thanks to the inactivity of the enemy’s artillery, were able to live in peace though under direct observation.  In our present sector we found six such farms; “Cookers,” the most famous, stood 500 yards behind S.P. 1, and was the centre of attraction for most of the bullets at night.  It contained a Company Headquarters, signal office, and the platoon on the ground floor, and one platoon in the attic!  Behind this, and partly screened from view, were “Frenchman’s” occupied by Battalion Headquarters, “Pond” where half the Reserve Company lived, and “Packhorse” containing the other half Reserve and Regimental Aid Post.  This last was also the burying ground for the sector, and rendezvous for transport and working parties.  Two other farms—­“Cob” and “T”—­lay on the Wulverghem Road and were not used until our second tour, when Battalion Headquarters moved into “Cob” as being pleasanter than “Frenchman’s,” and “Pond” also had to be evacuated, as the Lincolnshires had had heavy casualties there.

The enemy opposite to us, popularly supposed to be Bavarians, seemed content to leave everything by day to his snipers.  These certainly were exceptionally good, as we learnt by bitter experience.  By night there was greater activity, and rifle bullets fell thickly round Cookers Farm and the surrounding country.  There were also fixed rifles at intervals along the enemy’s lines aimed at our communication tracks,