Outside le Verguier there runs a muddy lane with an old quarry beside it.  In this quarry, in an evil-smelling but very deep dug-out lived Battalion Headquarters; everybody else occupied trenches in the fields round about.  On the opposite side of the lane was a battery of 9.2’s, firing almost continuously day and night, making it almost impossible to reach the Headquarters, and quite impossible to ride down the lane.  Altogether our surroundings were unpleasant.  The enemy soon made them worse, for about an hour before dawn on the 28th he suddenly put over a few small shells, apparently high explosive, round “B” Company’s trenches, while one or two also fell round “C” and “A” Companies.  Finally he pitched three clean into the quarry, and the sentry wake up to the fact that they were not only high explosive, but contained a very fair percentage of mustard gas.  It was about an hour before the discovery was made and still longer before all troops were moved away.  “C” Company wisely took no risks and were soon across the road, and “A” and “D” were practically unaffected.  “B” Company, however, were not warned, and it was nearly two hours after the first shell had come before they were finally moved grumbling to another area.  Apparently no one was gassed, but we knew mustard only too well and feared very much what the enemy would bring forth.  However, at 9-0 a.m. it came on to pour with rain, and we got more hopeful.

At 11 o’clock Col.  Griffiths, taking the Adjutant and Company Commanders with him, set off to a Conference with the Tank officers at Brigade Headquarters.  The enemy were shelling le Verguier, the 9.2’s were firing vigorously, it was pouring with rain, and the horses were very nervous.  The ride was consequently exciting.  Led as usual by “Sunloch,” the party galloped past the 9.2’s and halted at the entrance to the village to try and “time” the Boche shells.  One came, they dashed in, turned the corner and just got clear in time; the next shell skimmed over the last groom’s head and wounded a German prisoner.

Our conference with the Tank officers caused a slight alteration in Colonel Griffiths’ plan of attack.  He had intended to advance with two companies in front and two in support, but finding that a three company frontage was more suitable for Tank co-operation, this was adopted—­“A” Company (Petch) to be on the right, “C” Company (Banwell) to be in the centre, and “D” Company (Corah) on the left.  “B” Company (Hawley) would be in support.  The front line Company Commanders arranged rendezvous with their Tank Commanders, and we rode back.

By evening our worst fears had been realized, and forty-five of “B” Company had to be sent to Hospital, too blind from the mustard gas to be of any use.  C.S.M.  Wardle and about five men from each of the other Companies had also to go, while Headquarters lost Mess Corporal J. Buswell.  As we had lost L/Cpl.  Bourne a few days before, this left us rather helpless, and, but for our energetic Padre-Mess-President, should probably have starved.  We had one consolation.  Towards evening on the 28th the rain stopped, the weather brightened, and there seemed to be every prospect of a fine Sunday.  Bombs, flares and extra rations were distributed at dusk, and we turned in for the night during which, except for a few aeroplane bombs, the evening left us in peace.