arty as it was on the
point of entering their trenches. Unfortunately the two N.C.O.s who
fired the torpedo were missing, and it is presumed that they were
blown to bits by the explosion.

[Illustration: COOKHOUSE AT BECOURT.]

[Illustration: OBSERVATION POST, HULLUCH SECTOR.]

[Illustration: WAR'S DESTRUCTION.
_To face page 50._]

[Illustration: LIEUT.-COLONEL W.J. PAUL.
_To face page 51._]

On October 4th the Battalion took over "Village Trench" in the Cambrin
Sector (Maison Rouge), taking over the front line from the 11th Border
Regiment. The next move saw the 17th leave Beuvry and proceeding to
Labeauvriere on October 16th; to Hardinval, on the 19th; to Rubempre,
on the 21st; to Bouzincourt, on the 23rd; back by Rubempre and on to
Canaples on the 31st via Talmas and Navurs. This treking was done in
weather that was oftener wet than dry, exceedingly cold at night, and
the living was under canvas. At Val-de-Maison on November 1st, the
unit moved to Vadencourt after a fortnight, and then into the
Martinsart Valley on the 15th, where they were ordered to go into
action at Beaumont-Hamel, for by this time several drafts had brought
up the strength of the Battalion.

BEAUMONT-HAMEL.

_The attack--weather conditions--failure of artillery
support--forlorn hope--break-down of assault--gallantry and
sacrifice--casualties--Mailly-Maillet--Franqueville and
Rubempre--Xmas 1916 and New Year--football and high spirits._

The attack which commenced at ten minutes past six on the morning on
November 18th--a day of ice-covered slushiness--was held up owing to
the insufficiency of the artillery barrage and the heavy enemy machine
gun fire. At 7.42 a.m. the message came in to the Battalion from the
right hand Company that the Company Commander was wounded and that a
Sergeant and about ten men were holding the right flank. The jumping
off trench known as New Munich Trench, was manned by the Battalion
machine gunners with a view to concentrating some of the Companies in
it back across "no man's land" to form a rallying point. At 8.30 a.m.
the following message was received from 2nd Lieut. Macbeth of the
right Company, "Am holding old front line with remainder of Battalion,
and have established a bombing post on the right. There are only
Lieut. Martin and myself in the trench." The left Company was also
being hard pressed. It was reported by one of the Battalion officers
that when the