Between raids and gas attacks we were kept hard at work repairing our trenches.  General Kemp was a sapper before he became an Infantry Brigadier, and we were soon instructed in the mysteries of sump-holes, “berms” and “batters,” interlocking trench floor boards, and the correct angles for the sloping sides of a trench, while anyone who dared to undercut a parapet for any purpose had better not be present the next time that the General appeared.  As far as possible all the carpentry work was done by the Sappers out of trenches and sump-frames were sent up ready made, also small dug-outs in numbered parts, easily put together; all we had to do was to dig the necessary holes.  At the same time some genius invented the “A” frame, a really wonderful labour saving device.  Hitherto floorboards had been supported on piles and crossbars, while further and longer stakes were driven in to carry the rivetment.  The new frame shaped like a flat-topped letter “A,” was put in the floor of the trench upside down.  The legs held the revetment against the sides, the floorboards rested on the cross-piece, and the space between the cross-piece and the flat top formed a good drain.  These were first used in communication trenches only, where the Monmouthshires were at work for us; later we used them in all trenches wherever possible.

[Illustration:  Sketch of a trench.]

Meanwhile, when not in trenches, we rested, first at Bienvillers and later at Pommier.  Bienvillers had many good billets, but was too full of our heavy artillery to be pleasant, for the noise was often very disturbing.  The enemy, too, used to shell the place, and 2nd Lieut.  Shipston had a most remarkable escape one day when standing in front of a first floor window, shaving.  A whizz-bang hit the window sill and carried itself, sill and many bricks, between his legs into the room; he himself was untouched.  Another early morning bombardment found the Doctor in his bath.  He left it hurriedly and hastened, dripping and unclothed, to the cellar, which he found already contained several officers and the ladies of his billet.  But this stay in Bienvillers is most remembered on account of a slight fracas which occurred between Col.  Jones and a visiting Army Sanitation Officer.  A full account is given in two entries in the War Diary.  The first, dated the 23rd July, says simply—­“Major T——­, Sanitation Officer, IIIrd.  Army, came to look at billets.  We received him coldly, and in consequence got a bad report, see later.”  The second entry, a week later, is dated 30th July.  “The Sanitary report referred to came and we replied.  The report detailed many ways in which we, as a Regiment, were living in dirt, and making no attempt to follow common-sense rules, or to improve our state.  It stated that we had been in the village three days, and thus implied that there could be no excuse.  Our reply asserted that the inaccuracy of the report made it worthless.  That, though the Regiment had been there three days, the Army, which the gallant Major T. represented and worked for, had been in the village some months.  That Major T.’s party had done nothing to put or keep the billets in order, to put up incinerators, or in any way to make suitable billets for soldiers resting from trench duty.  It suggested that Major T. had neglected his duty, and thus was not in a position to judge a Regiment.”