he signallers will probably
not easily forget the morning when they found themselves the objective
in this kind of work. One shot dropped plumb on the H.Q. concrete
shelter, half removing the roof and scattering the contents of the
orderly room in a disrespectful manner, whilst the next one pushed in
the signaller's dug-out, wounding L.-Cpl. Wild. It was the sang-froid of
a/R.S.M. Clough on this occasion, coupled with his sound work generally
in the line, which earned for him the Belgian Croix de Guerre.

Although the casualties were nothing like so numerous, still our men
agreed that for general conditions they preferred the Ypres sector to
this, and it certainly was a most depressing spot. One of the great
troubles was the number of canals, which, owing to the destruction of
the dams and locks, etc., were now affected by the tides, causing them
to overflow and flood our defensive works. This was another source of
glee to the Hun, and he played a most amusing game--to himself--of
allowing us to build up a dam and then promptly knocking it down with
5.9's and 8"s. One night, a new officer to the 7th, 2nd-Lt. J. H. Milne,
was in charge of a working party on one of these jobs when they were
suddenly subjected to heavy shelling. The dam was smashed and Milne
found his party broken up on each side of the canal. Realising that one
or two of the men on the opposite side of the canal to himself had been
hit, he, along with Sgt. Heath and Pte. Titchener, scrambled across,
although the shelling had not ceased, and looked after them, getting
them to places of safety. Milne received recognition for this, while
Sgt. Heath and Pte. Titchener were awarded Military Medals.

On the night of November 1st a most unfortunate incident occurred. We
were out in support again and were to relieve the 5th the following
night in the front line, the usual advance parties having been sent up.
Lt. Sievewright had gone up for "B" company, and whilst there some
scheme had been suddenly formed to go out a short distance to examine
new wire that had been put up. The party had ventured out beyond the
wire, however, and were suddenly assailed with a hurricane of bombs from
what appeared to be an enemy patrol or covering party. Sievewright and
two officers of the 5th were killed and two other ranks wounded. It was
an exceedingly unfortunate event for it was quite an impromptu venture
and it would appear that the usual patrol precautions had not been
cons