The rest of our front line system was more or less ordinary—­deep trenches with, at intervals, a ruined dug-out for Company Headquarters.  Owing to the appalling weather all trenches were very wet, including the communication trenches, of which there were several—­Chiswick Avenue opposite Essarts, Lulu Lane alongside the Hannescamps road, with Collingbourne Avenue branching off it, and, on the Monchy side, Shell Street in the middle, and Stoneygate Street alongside the Bienvillers road.  The last had been so named by the Leicestershire “New Army” Brigade, who had originally built the trench.  Hannescamps, a minute village, lay 1,000 yards from the line, partly hidden by a hollow, and, with an excellent bank full of dug-outs, was a home for Battalion Headquarters and one Company.  Another Headquarters was in Shell Street, and the Support Battalion, with many batteries and others, lived in Bienvillers au Bois, about 11/2 behind the line.  Pommier, la Cauchie, and occasionally Humbercamps were rest billets still further back.  Beyond them a large farm, la Bazeque, was the home of all the Brigade transport and Q.M.  Stores.  Such was the sector into which the Division went after Gommecourt to rest and gradually recuperate.  Our Brigade had the Monchy front and the stretch with the wide No Man’s Land opposite Essarts; we, as a Battalion, were sometimes North, sometimes South of the Hannescamps Road, the other Brigades were further North, in the Ransart, Bailleulval and Berles area.  Here we stayed, with one rest later on, for eight months.

[Illustration:  Hohenzollern Craters, 1917-1918.]

Soon after our arrival in Bienvillers, we were much surprised to see Colonel Toller again return to us.  We thought that he really had got a permanent Command when he went to the Highlanders, but apparently a former Colonel returned a few days after he arrived there, and he was consequently sent back.  However, there were now many vacancies in our Division, and Col.  Toller was at once sent to command the 7th Sherwood Foresters, the Robin Hoods—­an appointment which proved to be permanent, and which he held for the next two years.  At the same time, Lieut.  N.C.  Marriott, wounded at Hohenzollern, returned to us, and soon afterwards 2nd Lieut.  J.C.  Barrett joined us from England, while we lost 2nd Lieut.  G.E.  Banwell, who was slightly wounded at Gommecourt, and, after several efforts to remain with his unit, had to go to Hospital with a badly poisoned foot.  We also lost our Divisional Commander, Major General the Hon. E.J.  Montagu-Stuart-Wortley, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., M.V.O., who went to England.  Before he went, the following notice appeared in orders:—­“On relinquishing the Command of the Division, General Stuart-Wortley wishes to thank all ranks, especially those who have been with the Division since mobilization, for their loyalty to him and unfailing spirit of devotion to duty.  He trusts the friendship formed may be lasting, and wishes the Division good luck and God speed.”  To quote the Battalion War Diary—­“The Major General has commanded the Division since 1914; universal regret is openly expressed at his departure.”