The prisoners were despatched to Brigade H.Q. in charge of the men who had captured them. Later, the Battalion received some highly complimentary messages from the higher authorities, particularly from the G.O.C., XI. Corps. He was so pleased with the operation that he not only strongly recommended Cpl. E. Jackson, M.M., for the Distinguished Conduct Medal, an honour which was awarded in due course, but bestowed Military Medals on all the other members of the patrol. It should be mentioned also that a congratulatory message was received by O.C. B Company, addressed to “The Body-snatching Company,” from “The Working Company” (i.e. C Company--self-styled). The next night the Battalion was relieved by the 5th Battalion Duke of Wellington’s Regt. and went back into Brigade Reserve at Rouge de Bout. Here a very pleasant time was spent. The weather continued gloriously fine, as it had been in the line, and the billets were good. Each company provided one platoon to man a line of defensive posts; the others carried on training. There was great competition in turning out smart guards, B Company winning with a D.C.M., M.M., corporal and three M.M. men. Here news arrived that Capt. W. C. Fenton and Capt. C. Jones, the padre, had each been awarded the Military Cross, and the occasion was suitably celebrated. Plans were also completed for an operation which the Battalion was to carry out during its next tour in the line. This operation was founded on the supposition that the enemy front line was practically unoccupied--a supposition which the Battalion had already begun to shake. The XI. Corps wished to impress the enemy with the idea that active operations were in preparation on the Corps front, and so hinder his sending troops away to the real battle areas. With this idea in view a scheme was drawn up for seizing the German front line and establishing a number of posts in it. The main points of the scheme were these:-- 1. In conjunction with the 146th Infantry Brigade, which was still in its old sector on the right, and a Brigade of the 57th Division on the left, a stretch of the enemy front line was to be seized at night, and a number of fortified posts were to be established in it. 2. Each of the three companies in the front line was to establish one platoon post. 3. For purposes of this operation the four platoons of each company were known as W, X, Y, Z. Their respective duties were as follows:--“W” platoon was to seize the position in the enemy front line and cover it during consolidation; “X” platoon was to consolidate and garrison the post; “Y” platoon was to carry the necessary ammunition and stores across No Man’s Land; “Z” platoon was to garrison the old British front line during the operation.