From dawn until 10-30 a.m. the enemy bombarded our village with gas and H.E., and the Brigade Major (Capt.  D. Hill, M.C.) who tried to go round the front line posts at this time had an unpleasant journey, while, shortly after him, the C.O. and Adjutant were similarly treated and had to hurry in a most undignified manner through an orchard.  However, no damage was done, and, when at midday we were relieved by the Staffordshires, we had had no casualties.  As we marched out past the little group of houses on the Regnicourt Road, where “D” Company had fought so gallantly on the 11th, the Burial Party were just burying Serjeants Bradshaw, Dimmocks and the others in a little cemetery which had been made in one of the cottage gardens, and they lie now within a few yards of where they fell.  The rest of the march was a cheerful affair, for it was a bright afternoon and we were not as tired as usual after a battle.  Drums and Band came out to meet us, the people of Bohain greeted us on the way, and our old friends in Fresnoy gave us their customary warm welcome.  Here we were a little more crowded than before, but still had plenty of room, and could look forward to a comfortable rest.  The following day, after a full Divisional Church Parade to return thanks for our victories, we were definitely promised a fortnight’s rest, and General Boyd and many others went home on leave.

For the rest of the month the Battalion remained in Fresnoy le Grand, training, refitting, and playing games.  Here, Lt.-Col.  A.J.  Digan, D.S.O., of the Connaught Rangers came to command us, and Major R.N.  Holmes, M.C., of the Lincolnshires to be 2nd in Command.  As we had already Major Dyer Bennet and the Adjutant, who had “put up” crowns before going on leave, as aspirants for this position, Major Holmes was transferred to the 137th Brigade.  Lieut.  T.H.  Ball returned from leave, and in addition to the five, nine other officers arrived, including Capt.  E.G.  Snaith, M.C., from the 2/4th Battalion, and the two “old hands” Lieut.  C.S.  Allen and 2nd Lieut.  J.A.  Hewson.  Capt.  Snaith went to “A” Company, and the other two became Signalling and Intelligence officers respectively as soon as active operations began again.  Our work consisted of steady drill, musketry and, in the evenings, lectures, the best of which were Col.  Jerram’s on the “Royal Navy,” and the Brigade Interpreter M. Dovet’s on “French Army Life,” the latter was particularly interesting.  The Drums now under Serjt.  Drummer Price performed on every possible occasion, and made an excellent display with the two new Tenor Drums which had arrived during the fighting, and now appeared in public for the first time.  The weather throughout the fortnight was not perfect, but might have been far worse, and we were able to play games almost every afternoon.  Our fixtures included two football matches against the French.  The first, at Seboncourt, was against the 55th Infantry, whose liaison platoon had done such splendid work