a blessing in disguise to the Guards, who were to
deliver the assault on our sector. The problem of effecting a crossing
of the canal was a most serious and difficult one, and it had been
arranged to send the men over on floating mats, as a good deal of
water still remained in parts of the bed. In others so much mud and
slime were encountered, while carrying out a series of raids, that it
was almost impossible to cross without some such assistance, and it
will be readily understood that it was imperative to waste no time in
this manoeuvre, especially as the foe was awaiting them on the further
bank. Whether it was that the enemy could not maintain communications
between his front line and the rear, on account of our intense
bombardment, or whether, as has been suggested, he suspected a
repetition of Messines, and that we had mined underneath the canal
bed, at all events three days before the attack he evacuated the canal
bank and retired just over the crest of the hill some 800 yards
beyond. This movement, however, had not been carried out unperceived
by our valiant airmen, who, flying at a low altitude, returned and
reported the situation. Immediately strong patrols crossed the canal
and pushed up the slope on the other side, in order to remain in
contact with the enemy and gauge his whereabouts. A series of posts
were thus established 500 to 600 yards east of the canal, and orders
were given to hold them at all costs, so that on the day of the battle
our infantry could start off from there without having any serious
obstacle in their way. Many men crossed the canal by means of hastily
constructed foot bridges or floating rafts made of biscuit and petrol
tins ingeniously lashed together.

On this occasion we will follow the fortunes of the F.O.O.'s (p. 051)
detailed to accompany the infantry on their journey over the top on
the first day of the battle. The party consisted of two officers and
fourteen signallers and linesmen from the Brigade, who, during the
past fortnight, had received full instructions as to their duties.
Every detail had been carefully worked out beforehand: the men had
been divided into several groups, each armed with telephones, reels of
wire, flags, and Lucas lamps, all these things being necessary for the
provision of each relay station. One of the officers was to accompany
the attacking waves of infantry with his staff, consisting of a
telephonist, linesman, and signaller, while the duty o