the neighbourhood of St.
Julian.

No information was forthcoming as to the location of either of these
forces, and it would seem that, instead of one continuous line, there
were many small parties holding out in isolated groups.

Two officers from each Battalion had been sent up in advance (Captain
Husey and Lieutenant Johnston from the London Rifle Brigade), but no
available information could be collected, except that there was
apparently a gap.

_To face page 18._

[Illustration: BATTALION HEADQUARTERS.

_11th May, 1915._]

That night the Hants joined up with the 28th Division, and prolonged the
line nearly to the junction of the Zonnebeke-St. Julian and
Ypres-Passchendale roads. There was, however, still a gap of nearly
1,000 yards between its left and the rest of the Brigade which had
prolonged the line from the right of the 10th Brigade and part of the
Northumbrian Division.

The London Rifle Brigade, being in support, had been instructed to dig
itself in 600 yards south-east of Fortuin.

[Sidenote: =April 26th.=]

The Battalion did not reach this position until 1.45 a.m., but, thanks
to an early morning mist, it was able to secure fairly good cover by
daylight.

On this day, and daily for the next seven days, the Battalion was
heavily shelled, and suffered a high percentage of casualties, chiefly
from enfilade fire.

Orders were received for a company to move early in the afternoon and
take up a position that would join up the gap existing between the
Somerset Light Infantry and the Hants. "C" Company was detailed, but a
personal reconnaissance by the Officer Commanding the Company (Major
Burnell) convinced higher authority that it was not only impossible to
move the men by day, but that the Hants' left could not be found. Orders
were accordingly received for the whole Battalion to move at dusk into
the gap. Moving by a somewhat circuitous route, it arrived at its
position, and dug in for the second night in succession. Owing to the
darkness, most, if not all, of the rules as to "artillery formation"
were of necessity transgressed on this occasion.

_To face page 19._

[Illustration: YSER CANAL.]

The left of its line joined the Somersets, and the right an isolated
party on the Zonnebeke-St. Julian road, which was supporting the Hants'
left some 500 yards further forward to the right front.

[Sidenote: =April 28th.=]

It was not until this night that the Rifle Brigade finally dug across
an