But to continue the reproduction of the letter quoted above: 

“I am attached to B Company, commanded by Captain Andrews, and I have been appointed by him to command the seventh platoon.  Just before tea Captain Andrews had me in his room and gave me maps of the district and explained—­with reference to the maps—­the situation.  He also told me the plan of campaign and explained what Haig’s intentions for the whole summer offensive are and what he requires us to do; so I now know the general idea, and I also know in detail what this battalion, this company, and my own platoon have got to do—­and when; but as it is all very secret information only for officers, I, unfortunately, cannot give it you.  My opinion is that the general plan is good, with the exception that I do not quite appreciate the point with respect to the particular part which this battalion (and brigade) has to play in a few days; it strikes me as being rather foolish, though it may be all right.

“While we were having tea the Germans set up a most terrific bombardment of this prison.  Shells exploded just outside the window-opening, causing quite a wind inside the room.  It is going on still; shells keep striking the wall outside.  There it goes—­bang!  And there are our guns smashing back at them.  There again—­debris scattering in the quad, the other side of the door.  Whizz-bang!  It is extraordinary that any walls in this city can remain standing at this rate.  They say that this goes on day and night.  When a shell explodes the room is temporarily darkened by the cloud of smoke which rises.  This is some bombardment; it is worse than the worst of thunder-storms.

“I have found Verity here.  He has been here some time, and is alive and in the best of health.

“Well, I really must stop now; though I could go on recording every bang as it comes; there are about two explosions during every sentence which I write.

“Now do not get anxious, we manage to exist through it all; and I do not see why my luck should desert me.  I am on the one point on the Western Front where I had a desire to explore.  There is something doing here.”

And “something doing” there was, much sooner than I expected.  I had reached the Prison at Ypres just in time to hear and feel the best staged battle in history—­the Battle of Messines.  The following letter written home on the evening of June 7, describes Messines Night: 

“Since I wrote to Mother yesterday a good deal has happened.  About 6.30 I attended a conference consisting of the officers and sergeants of B Company in Captain Andrew’s room; and Captain Andrews explained the scheme which he had explained to me earlier on; though he did not tell them quite as much.  I, of course, will not tell you what the scheme was!  Then dinner.  Things were much quieter now—­quieter than they had been all day.  A working party of the Battalion was to leave after dinner.  The 2/5th Lancashire Fusiliers are the battalion in reserve