d
the transport was so smart as to be thought by the Belgians to be new.

It was a proud and splendid Division which marched, with drums beating
and colours flying, across the German frontier into the little town of
Malmedy between 13th and 16th December.

Marching generally by only one road, the length of the Division, when
billeted, varied from ten to twenty-five miles. It was particularly
interesting for Brigades to occupy the German huts at Elsenborn Camp
of Exercise, where large numbers of the enemy had assembled in the end
of July 1914 for the conquest of Belgium.

The attitude of the population in Germany was servile, and little hate
could be felt by one or two battalions which marched into Malmedy in
pouring rain and found German women lighting special fires, without
being ordered to do so, to dry their clothing. It must, however, be
added that the inhabitants of Malmedy speak French and have Belgian
sympathies.

Passing through the lovely little village of Montjoie, which reminds
one so much of Switzerland, the Division marched to its allotted area
south-west of Cologne, Divisional Headquarters arriving at Bruhl, six
miles from Cologne, on Christmas Eve; Headquarters 16th Infantry
Brigade at Zulpich, Headquarters 18th Infantry Brigade at Lechenich,
Headquarters 71st Infantry Brigade at Eichhols (a country house), and
Headquarters Divisional Troops at a chateau near Weilerswist. The
route followed--220 miles--is given in the Diary.

It was with a great feeling of gratitude and elation that the
Division ate their Christmas dinner on the Rhine in December 1918.

The area allotted to the Division was a strip of country almost
rectangular in shape, with a maximum length of twenty miles, and a
maximum breadth of twelve miles, and lying to the immediate south-west
of Cologne. The north-west border was on the ring of forts encircling
the city, which were later included in the divisional area.

The Civil Administration was carried out by the G.O.C. Infantry
Brigades and the C.R.A., who were much assisted by a Civil Staff
Captain and a Provost representative, and in the town of Bruhl by the
G.O.C. Division, who also generally supervised under the Corps and the
Army the work of the Group Commanders.

The Germans were very orderly, and little trouble was given, but guard
and night patrol was fairly heavy.

On 1st February 1919, General Sir H. Plumer presented a Colour to the
9th Norfolk Regiment, 11th Essex Regi