the work of bringing our
heavies up was accomplished quickly and effectively. The battery took
up a position in our former front line facing Bourlon Wood, with the
ruined village of Mouevres immediately ahead, while the forward
section was placed in part of the Hindenburg line itself, south-east
of Pronville. Wire cutting was undertaken and carried out by all field
batteries, and the heavies pounded enemy emplacements and
communication trenches in the rear.

Bombing by aircraft became intensive on both sides, and the enemy
adopted new tactics by coming over after dark, and, waiting for (p. 087)
the gun flashes, proceeded to drop bombs on the batteries. A fine
spectacle was witnessed two nights in succession in the form of a
super-Gotha bombing machine brought down in flames. Our small fighting
planes were in the habit of flying at a high altitude, keeping watch
over our lines and lying in wait for these monsters. As soon as one of
them was picked out in the rays of a searchlight, others would
concentrate at once on it, whereupon the archies immediately opened
fire. Then far above a light would twinkle out several times, which
was a sign for the anti-aircraft batteries to cease fire. Everything
remained still for a while, the searchlights always focused on their
prey, which endeavoured to dodge out of the brilliant light, but in
vain, owing to its unwieldiness. Then suddenly from out of the
darkness a little object shot alongside the giant plane and spat
tracer bullets into it, whereupon it instantly caught fire, and slowly
heeling over commenced its downward journey to destruction.

Fierce fighting continued to the south, and by a series of brilliant
operations our troops had everywhere come in contact with the
Hindenburg Line, and commenced pounding its defences for the further
advance. At the beginning of the fourth week in September preparations
were almost complete for the coming assault, which would require all
the energy and fortitude we could display. The Division was
side-slipped down to the neighbourhood of Havrincourt, as it was
familiar ground to us, after our experiences in November and December
of the previous year. The policy at this juncture was, as far as it
could be carried out, to place Divisions in localities with which they
had already become acquainted. Our battle position was situated on the
outskirts of the small hamlet of Demicourt, and we were to cross the
canal a few hours after zero by m