, D.S.O., left the
Battalion on his promotion to the rank of Brigadier-General. Before he
left he made a speech to the men and published the following "Farewell
Order":--

On relinquishing command of the Battalion to take over command
of the 48th Infantry Brigade, the Commanding Officer wishes to
express his regret at leaving the Regiment, which he has had
the honour of commanding for the last eight months, and his
gratitude for the loyal way in which all ranks have supported
him.

The Commanding Officer is very sensible of the fact that the
excellent work done by the Regiment has gained for him his
decoration and promotion.

Later in the war he received promotion and commanded the 58th (London)
Division as Major General.

While at Merelessart the usual training took place. There was little work
done as a complete unit not much attention being paid to tactical work. A
rifle range was at the disposal of the Battalion on which the companies
were able to fire a few practices and so keep up their musketry.

It is worthy of remark that of the officers serving with the companies at
this time approximately two-thirds were subsequently killed during the
course of the war, while the survivors were almost all wounded at some
time or other.

Early in February orders came along to the effect that the Division was
to go into line, and on the 6th February the Battalion left Merelessart
and marched to Longpre where the night was spent, and the next day it
reached Berteaucourt-les-Dames. A few days were spent here, during which
Major C.P. James took over the command of the Battalion, and afterwards it
marched via Doullens to Amplier, and after a night's rest in some huts
there it reached Berles-au-Bois the next day. En route it passed through
Pas, where there was a steep hill which presented such difficulties to the
transport section that they remembered it when they returned in two year's
time. At Berles-au-Bois the men were billeted in the ruined village. This
was the first experience the Battalion had of a really tranquil front.

This village lay within a mile of the front line, and it seemed uncanny to
be so near the enemy and yet to hear so few shots fired. Indeed it was
almost too good to be true. The unit did not take over the defence of this
area, and orders came soon that on the 15th the Battalion was to take over
a sector on the Wailly front, where it was to relieve a batta