s,
consequently they were only to be fired in case of a general S.O.S.,
and all the shoots were accomplished by the forward section. Much time
was spent in making our new quarters shipshape, and the ground was
well suited for mining, as it consisted principally of chalk, and
eventually all ranks were comfortably installed in spacious underground
quarters, although, at the moment, they were quite unnecessary, and
many lay out in the open during the warm summer nights. The principal
thing to do now was to make sure that the officers and men did not
stagnate for lack of occupation and to find means to keep them (p. 080)
hard and fit. Physical exercises were indulged in during the morning,
and sports of all kinds were organised, both at the battery positions
and at the wagon lines--the latter having taken up their quarters at
the village of Baillemont.

A modified kind of base-ball, introduced by an energetic and
enthusiastic Canadian subaltern, became very popular with the men,
while the corps ran a polo-club of sorts for the officers. A fairly
level patch of ground was selected which possessed a certain amount of
grass, and the numerous shell holes were filled in and levelled off by
fatigue parties, with the result that it became moderately good. The
polo ponies, however, left something to be desired, and it was no
uncommon sight to see a young officer appear mounted on a stalwart
wheeler, the best he could do for himself from among the horses in his
section. Possibly the explanation was that he had found a horse which
he could suitably "rein in".

Meanwhile the enemy's third big offensive had come and gone and the
British Commander-in-Chief's famous "back to the wall" order of the
day to his armies. Still we waited, but nothing unusual happened; then
in the middle of July the French were heavily attacked, and once more
the clouds appeared on the horizon. There was great enthusiasm when it
became known that our Allies had counter-attacked, and were driving
the enemy out of the Marne pocket, and when the daily bulletins
arrived there was always a scramble among the men to read them. Then
the British stroke fell south of the river Somme at Villers
Brettonneux, and excellent news, as to our progress, came through,
which raised everyone's hopes to a high degree. Our artillery fire was
increased daily, and affairs became more lively, while flying was in
full swing and continued night and day. Both sides paid much attenti