and we then carried on along Track 6, past Salvation Corner, beyond Ypres and into Liverpool Trench.  We left some sign-posts there and then walked back to the miniature railway.  It was a horribly dirty trip; all the ground was thick with slush.  We got a train part of the way back and travelled on an engine the remainder!  It was 4.15 p.m. when we got back.  We had some tea.  Then we attended a conference, presided over by Colonel Best-Dunkley, in Headquarters Mess Hut, to have our last corporate discussion upon the coming battle.  There were officers from other units connected with us there; and Best-Dunkley made sure that everybody knew exactly what he had got to do and what assistance he could expect from anybody else.  He was calm and dignified and even polite.  He concluded the proceedings by making a soldierly appeal to the honour of the battalion, said that he knew that every gentleman in the 2/5th Lancashire Fusiliers would do his duty, that he placed entire confidence in our loyalty and our ability; and remarked that he would not hesitate to recommend for decorations anybody who carried on when wounded or distinguished himself by any conspicuous act of bravery.

“Major Brighten looked into our mess tent just before dinner.  I was alone, looking at maps.  He said that he wondered what I would think of it all when I saw the coming battle in full swing.  He told me that the landing on the Coast is not, he thinks, after all, coming off this time!  In fact Rawlinson’s Fourth Army is not to be in it at all.  I expect the German thrust at Nieuport has spoilt Haig’s plans there.  I am very sorry indeed.  Major Brighten said that the plan is completely changed.  This battle is going to be fought north and south of Ypres with the object of breaking through here.  One would naturally assume so from the number of maps with which we have been issued.  Major Brighten is going down to the Transport.  He will not take part in this battle unless required.  He is on ‘battle reserve’; and so are Barlow and Smith as they have arrived so recently, and have not practised the ‘stunt.’  Harwood is liaison officer with the 1/6th Cheshires on our left.

“A and B Companies had a very lively time at dinner this ‘X’ evening.  West was acting the fool and making us all laugh.

“At 9.30 p.m. the Battalion left Query Camp and we marched to our concentration trenches beyond Vlamertinghe.  The men filed into these trenches—­5 and 8 platoons in the same trench.  Battalion Headquarters are at Cafe Belge on the left of the main road.  B Company Headquarters are in the cellar of the next cottage on the left.  About a hundred yards further on—­on the left of the road—­is the trench my (8) platoon is in.  The organization of my platoon is as follows:  Sergeant Baldwin is platoon sergeant, and Corporal Livesey is next in seniority after him.  I have five sections.  The Bombing Section, under Livesey, consists of eight all told; Tipping’s Riflemen, thirteen; Heap’s Rifle-Grenade men, eleven; two Lewis Gun Sections—­Topping and Hopkinson being the respective section commanders and each having seven in their sections.