urt, and the
day following in the line again to the right of our last sector. Here we
saw the S.O.S. signal go up on our right one night early in August and
we had a good view of the pyrotechnics that follow such a signal. It
must have been an expensive evening as thousands of rounds fell in
barrage, but we never heard if there had been a raid by the enemy;
sometimes these signals are sent up, the reason being "wind up." And one
has a certain amount of sympathy for the sentry in a small post in front
of the line who makes a mistake. He knows if an attack is coming he may
only have a few seconds in which to act. His rifle is loaded with the
S.O.S. grenade and all he has to do to let it off is to press the
trigger. All varieties of temperament are represented in these lonely
sentries, hence occasionally a mistake is made.

Our experiences of holding the line as it had been since the enemy
reached the limit of his advance in Spring, finished on 16th August,
when we were relieved by the 8th Division and moved back to Roclincourt,
and thence a ten mile march brought us to a camp in a thick wood near
the Chateau de la Haie. We now began to suspect something would be doing
soon as all surplus baggage was sent to a dump at Aubigny. One may send
much to a dump, but little ever seems to be got back. Four days were
spent near this chateau and then on 21st August a march was made to a
camp at Agnes les Duisans near Arras. Enemy planes were very active at
night dropping bombs wherever they thought there was movement, but a
thick mist obscured the full moon and we moved with a feeling of
security that would have been absent on a clear night. Our own planes at
this time were we knew at least as active behind the German lines. In
addition, our scouts patrolled above us looking for enemy raiders, and
if the latter became caught in the beams of searchlights the scouts soon
shot down the heavier machines.

The camp at Agnes les Duisans was conspicuous by its cleanliness and by
a most beautiful bathing pool near, rising from numerous springs out of
a chalky soil. The pool was clear, cold and deep and set among meadows
and trees--a striking contrast to the dusty road.

On the night 22/23rd we moved further south to Bellecourt and could hear
that we were approaching the battle area. On the 23rd we moved nearer
the line to a rendezvous near Ficheux, arriving about 11 p.m.

At 2 a.m. on the 24th August orders were received for an attack to