st. The possibility of getting
material up has a corresponding effect on the work in the trenches. The
trench we were in on December 9th, which we could not conceive ever
being anything but a drain, has now found its proper use. It has a new
C.T. behind, and breastworks pushed out in front into the hedge, with
little bridges across to each; so that altogether everything in the
garden is as near lovely as can be."

The Bishop of London, the Senior Chaplain to the Regiment, during his
visit to the front, came to Ploegsteert on April 3rd, and celebrated
Holy Communion for the Battalion on Easter Sunday. He also consecrated
the Battalion's graveyard in the village.

His regret at not being allowed to see the members of the Battalion in
the trenches was shared by all ranks.

[Sidenote: =April 17th.=]

Two brigades had been withdrawn to the neighbourhood of Steenwerck by
this date, and the 4th Division started its first period of rest since
the Retreat.

[Sidenote: =April 24th.=]

Orders were received on the 22nd for these brigades to be ready to move
at an hour's notice. The London Rifle Brigade actually entrained at
mid-day on the 24th, and spent the night in billets outside Poperinghe,
moving off at 5.30 a.m. next morning to the outskirts of Vlamertinghe.
It stopped there till 6 p.m., when it paraded with the rest of the
Brigade (less the East Lancashires) to go into the Salient.

[Sidenote: =Second Battle of Ypres.=]

Since the first gas attack on the evening of April 22nd, little definite
information had been available as to the situation between the left of
the 28th Division (some 1,000 yards N.N.E. of Zonnebeke) and along the
whole north side of the Salient down to the canal near Boesinghe. The
Canadians had held on with the grimmest determination in the
neighbourhood of St. Julian, while what became to be known as Geddes'
force held the line from the canal up to the Canadians. Geddes' force
consisted originally of the supports and reserves (isolated companies
and battalions) from the south and east sides of the Salient. By the
night of the 25th this force had been supplemented by the 10th Brigade,
the Northumbrian Territorial Division, the Lahore Division, and the 13th
Brigade from the 5th Division.

[Sidenote: =April 25th.=]

The 11th Brigade was ordered on this night to join up the left of the
28th Division with the right of the 10th Brigade, and so relieve the
Canadians, who were still holding out in