The same afternoon we had further bad luck.  On the extreme left No. 13 Platoon (Christy) had been very actively sniping the enemy on the Cailloux Road, and soon after midday, came the retaliation in the form of heavy shelling which lasted about an hour.  There was little cover, and one post was wiped out, including a promising young soldier, Lance-Corporal Harries, whose name had been recommended for a Commission. 2nd Lieut.  Christy managed, in spite of the difficulty of moving men in daylight, to get the majority of his Platoon out of the Keep, and took up positions on either flank; this action undoubtedly saved many casualties.  Corporal Hamill, one of the old soldiers of the Battalion and a well-known long distance runner, was killed at the same time.  The Platoon was naturally rather shaken, and its place was therefore taken by a Platoon of “C” Company.  The following night we were relieved by the Sherwood Foresters and went back to Vaudricourt.  The Relief was carried out without interference from the enemy except for Battalion Headquarter Officers, who had to leave Loisne Chateau at the gallop.  Salvoes of whizz-bangs were arriving at frequent intervals, and there was just time to mount and gallop 300 yards down the road between the bursts.

The next six days at Vaudricourt were delightful; we all needed a rest, and the weather for once was excellent.  At this time Major General W. Thwaites, C.B., who had Commanded the Division since 1916, was appointed Director of Military Intelligence at the War Office, and his place was taken by Major General G.F.  Boyd, C.M.G., D.S.O., D.C.M.  It is impossible even now to estimate all that General Thwaites did for the Division, and it was very bad luck for him that he had to leave just at the time when the Division was to reap the fruits of his training.  He took us over after the Gommecourt battle, and we were tired and weak, as is to be expected after heavy casualties; if he had stayed another month he would have seen us doing as no Division had done before.  There are many of us who would cheerfully have been “crumped” to escape a “G.O.C.’s Inspection,” but we have lived to be thankful even for these; they made our Platoon and Company organisation perfect.

On the 30th we all went and listened to a lecture on Co-operation with Tanks, given by an Officer who had taken part in the recent fighting down South.  It was a bloodthirsty and blood-curdling recital, and at the end of it we all felt ready for an enormous battle, provided we could have a tank or two to help.  The following day, being the Brigade Boxing Tournament Finals, some of the N.C.O.’s and men got an opportunity of slaking their battle lust.  This they did very successfully, as at the end of the day we were equal with the 5th Lincolns, who had previously always been winners.  Serjeants Wardle, Ptes.  “Mat” Moore and Martin, all won their weights, and in addition Serjeant Wardle won the open catch weight championship.  This N.C.O. then challenged any one of the 5th Lincolns’ side to fight a “one round” deciding bout, and, beating his opponent, won the day for the Battalion.  The Brigadier gave away the prizes and also the Sports Cup which we had won.  There was a very gratifying predominance of “yellow rings” throughout this part of the proceedings.