At the end of this tour, the Brigade went into Divisional reserve, and we, relieved by the Sherwood Foresters, went back to Fosse 10, near Petit Sains.  Here we stayed for six days training, playing games, and, by way of work, wiring a new line of defence.  During this time we lost several officers.  Capt.  Wollaston and Lieut.  H.E.  Chapman went to Hospital, Lieut.  Petch, 2nd Lieuts Clay and Bligh had already gone, and 2nd Lieut.  Hepworth left a few days later to join the Indian Army.  Captain Shields went on leave and “D” Company was commanded by Captain John Burnett, who, on his return from England, had been sent to the 4th Battalion, but soon worked his way back to us.

It was now our turn to go to the right Brigade sector, previously held by the Staffordshires, and on the 12th May we marched up to Red Mill, between Angres and Lievin.  It was a disastrous march, for we were heavily shelled, and lost L/Cpl.  Startin and Pte.  Norton killed, and three L/Cpls., Ellis, Richardson and Roper, wounded—­four of these were “No. 1” Lewis Gunners.  Once at Red Mill all was well, and for the next two days we had an enjoyable time.  The Mill proved to be a large red-brick Chateau, now sadly knocked about, on the banks of the Souchez river.  The weather was bright and warm, so a dam was built, and we soon had an excellent bathing pool, much patronized by all ranks. 2nd Lieut.  J.C.  Barrett was the star performer, and never left the water, so that those who had nothing better to do used to “go and see the Signalling Officer swim”—­it was one of the recognised recreations of the place.

At night we provided carrying and wiring parties, all of which had to go through Lievin, a bad place for shells.  The Church stood at a particularly hot corner, and here, on the 11th, 2nd Lieut.  T.P.  Creed, M.C., was wounded in the head and foot and had to be sent to England, a great loss to “D” Company.  We had two killed and nine wounded about the same time, and lost amongst the wounded one of our old soldiers, O’Shaugnessy, the boxer.

On the 15th May we relieved our 4th Battalion in the right sub-sector, staying there for ten days, with a three days’ holiday at Red Mill in the middle.  We were very weak, and our strength in trenches was barely 450, for in addition to casualties we had to send many away on leave or to courses.  Our new sector lay between the Souchez river and the Lens-Lievin road, while across the river were the Canadians.  Opposite them and our right flank, was the ridge with the generating station, opposite our centre Fosse 3 and “Hill 65.”  Fosse 3 had a large group of mine buildings standing on a slag heap, which ran Southwards from “Hill 65,” ending above the river with a thirty foot slope.  The Western face was the same height, and at its foot on our side was a large lake.  The Corons were on the slopes of the Hill and round its base on the Western side.  Those at the bottom we held, but the enemy had those on the slopes, and one building