Orders were received for a company to move early in the afternoon and take up a position that would join up the gap existing between the Somerset Light Infantry and the Hants. "C" Company was detailed, but a personal reconnaissance by the Officer Commanding the Company (Major Burnell) convinced higher authority that it was not only impossible to move the men by day, but that the Hants' left could not be found. Orders were accordingly received for the whole Battalion to move at dusk into the gap. Moving by a somewhat circuitous route, it arrived at its position, and dug in for the second night in succession. Owing to the darkness, most, if not all, of the rules as to "artillery formation" were of necessity transgressed on this occasion. _To face page 19._ [Illustration: YSER CANAL.] The left of its line joined the Somersets, and the right an isolated party on the Zonnebeke-St. Julian road, which was supporting the Hants' left some 500 yards further forward to the right front. [Sidenote: =April 28th.=] It was not until this night that the Rifle Brigade finally dug across and joined up with the Hants, so that there was once more a continuous line. [Sidenote: =April 29th.=] The London Rifle Brigade, having now become the second line, was moved up on this night to relieve the 4th East Yorks. The latter, with the 4th Yorks, were split up among the Battalions of the 11th Brigade, two companies of the latter being attached to the London Rifle Brigade. (The East Lancs had rejoined the Brigade by this time.) [Sidenote: =May 2nd.=] About 5 p.m., under cover of very heavy shell fire and gas, the Germans advanced from the ridge beyond the Haanebeke stream into the dead ground on the near side of the stream, where they dug in some 300 yards away, though on the left they got up much closer under cover of the houses. The London Rifle Brigade casualties were very heavy, especially on the right, where the ground was more open. Though the Battalion was affected by the gas for about 10 minutes, there was sufficient wind to dissipate it before any serious damage was done. _To face page 20._ [Illustration: MAJOR A. S. BATES. _20th May, 1915._] There is no doubt that, during their advance from about 1,000 yards till they got into dead ground, the Germans suffered fairly heavy casualties from the rifle fire of the two companies on the right, and this may possibly have deterred them from trying to leave the dead ground. With the assistance of the two companies of the 4th Yorks and one company of the East Lancs, which was also attached to the Battalion, the damage to the trenches was almost all repaired during the night, and all the wounded were evacuated. [Sidenote: =May 3rd.=] On this night the line was readjusted, and the whole Brigade retired through the new line in rear without a single casualty. [Sidenote: =May 4th.=]