ave for officers commenced. Then came a move, and on January
19 the Battalion marched to Le Touret, relieving the 6th Queen's
Regiment, the 99th Infantry Brigade taking over a sector of the front
at Festubert from the 37th Infantry Brigade.

[Illustration: LT.-COL. H.A. VERNON, D.S.O.
To face p. 42]

On January 22 the Battalion relieved the 1st Royal Berks, "B" Company
being in reserve in the old British line, "A" Company in support in
Richmond Trench, "C" Company in front line Cover Trench and Islands,
and "D" Company in front line Orchard Trench. The front line and
support line garrisons, it may be noted, had to take up their
positions over the top, and so could not be visited in daylight. The
position remained the same until the then Kaiser's birthday, on
January 27, when although the order for relief was given at 6 p.m., a
"stand to" was ordered in anticipation of an attack.

This did not come off, and, the relief by the 24th Royal Fusiliers
being effected, the Battalion marched back to Bethune on January 28,
where the billets were inspected by General Kellett.

On January 29 Colonel Lord Maitland relinquished the command of the
Battalion, temporary command being taken by Major Richey, D.S.O., and
Lieutenant-Colonel H.A. Vernon (1st King's Royal Rifle Corps) assumed
command on January 31, while Lieutenant Cooper was appointed
machine-gun officer in place of Lieutenant Lewis, who had been
wounded.

Le Quesnoy was the next move, made on February 3, and relieving the
1st Royal Berks on February 7, the Battalion was in turn moved out of
the trenches into the village line Givenchy on the 11th, remaining
there until the 15th, when it again relieved the 1st Royal Berks in B3
sub-sector Givenchy. On the 17th the Battalion was relieved by the
16th Royal Welsh Fusiliers and moved to Le Quesnoy, remaining there
until the 27th, when it proceeded to Barlin. On February 28 another
move was made to Petit Sains, relieving the 22nd Royal Fusiliers, and
on the 29th the Battalion took over the Souchez North sector of
trenches from the French 77th Infantry Regiment.

From March 1 to March 13 the Battalion held the line at Souchez North
in turn with the 1st King's Royal Rifle Corps and on the latter date
proceeded to billets at Noulette, returning again to the trenches on
the 17th, the Battalion on the left being the 17th Royal Fusiliers,
and on the right the 1st Royal Berks. Then on March 28 it moved to La
Comte for d