Battalion area at a
low altitude for some time.

June 11th.--The day was fairly quiet, our forward posts in
front of Rossignol Wood were troubled by our own artillery
which persistently fired short.

June 12th.--The enemy was noticeably quieter.

June 13th.--The Duke of Marlborough and Mr. Winston Churchill
visited the Battalion sector, accompanied by the Divisional
Commander.

June 14th.--Artillery activity at night has quietened
considerably. Our gunners still continued to harass the enemy
with an occasional _rafale_ from their field guns.

The Battalion found a wiring party to assist the 2-4th
Battalion South Lancashire Regiment to wire Biez Wood. The
Brigadier General visited the sector.

June 14th--15th.--The Battalion was relieved by the 2-6th
Battalion Liverpool Regiment. During the relief the enemy
artillery was very active.

June 15th.--ROSSIGNOL FARM.--On relief the Battalion was
disposed as follows:--"A" and "D" Companies at Chateau de la
Haie; "B" and "C" Companies and Battalion headquarters at
Rossignol Farm.

* * * * *

In May and June the Gommecourt sector was active, and the artillery fire
on both sides was severe. The enemy employed a shell with an instantaneous
fuse called the E.K.Z. fuse, which functioned before the shell buried
itself and so gave the shell a very great splinter effect. It was usual
for the enemy to fire on cross roads and similar targets in salvoes of
four. The British artillery replied and kept up a lively fire most of the
time, and it appeared to have the ascendency. Gas shells were frequently
used on both sides.

Early in July the Battalion came out to rest at Authie, where it was
accommodated under canvas. Here it was that Lieutenant-Colonel Lord Henry
Seymour, D.S.O., of the Grenadier Guards, took command. Training for the
attack took place in some cornfields near to the camp, and particular
attention was paid to the keeping of direction in the advance, the
tactical employment of Lewis guns and the envelopment of machine gun
nests. The fighting had become more open this year than it had been in
1917, and consequently the men had to be kept up to date. To consolidate a
position the men were taught to form platoon strong points with the flanks
refused or bent back so as to be able to meet an attack from any
direction. Unfortunately t