“Eh, lad, but aw’m glad to see thi agen,” was his mother’s greeting. “Did they feed thi well?” “Feed me, mother! I’ve never ’ad such feedin’ in aw me life as this Christmas. ’am an’ eggs for breekfast, turkey an’ sossidges, plum-puddin’ an’ mince-pies for dinner. Cakes an’ grapes an’ apples an’ oranges as much as we could put away. Then yesterday we wur taken to a big house for dinner, and ’ad it all o’er agen, an’ other things too.” “Eh, lad, but they’ve done thi well!” “Aye, everything we could want—except one thing, mother, as I’m fair longin’ for, and that’s a gradely tater-pie.” “That’s aw reet, lad! There’s one a-waitin’ for thi i’ th’ oven, Aw knowed as they wouldna be feedin’ thi proper.” [Illustration: LA BASSÉE SECTOR. THE MILL.] [Illustration: LA BASSÉE SECTOR. GIVENCHY CRATERS.] [Illustration: LA BASSÉE SECTOR. GORRE CHÂTEAU.] [Sidenote: _Festivities and Social Life_] The social life played an important part in developing and stimulating the morale of the Division. New drafts to replace casualties had first to acquire the _esprit de corps_ of the Unit, and then of the Brigade and Division; and the hearty fellowship and jollity shown by all ranks at Christmastide had a distinct military value. The 42nd had again become one of the happiest of divisions, and good comradeship prevailed from top to bottom, whether in the line, where danger and hardship were cheerfully accepted as part of the day’s work, or in billets, where care was cast aside. To take one instance, who can forget “Harley Street” after dusk? Within rifle range of the enemy, and under observation in the daytime, it would hardly seem the place in which to congregate. With divisional baths and a reading and recreation room in full swing, the street was a crowded thoroughfare, and when night fell limbers and wagons passed through in an unending stream. Men lounged in the doorways of ruined houses, smoking, passing remarks on things in general and critical comments on drivers and animals. The air hummed with the buzz of conversation, broken now and again by snatches of popular ditties from gatherings of convivial souls. The spirit of good-humour was passed on to the folk at home. A machine-gunner had been punished by his officer, and, knowing that the same officer would have to read the letter in his capacity as censor, he wrote to his mother: “We have got a new Section Officer, such a nice fellow. We get on splendidly together, and he thinks me so capable that he has got me the job of cleaning pack-saddles this week.” The strength of the Division on January 1, 1918, was 732 officers and 14,314 other ranks. On January 14 Major-General Townsley, of the American Army, with his Chief of Staff and A.D.C., was attached to the Division for ten days. On the 22nd the campaign on behalf of St. Dunstan’s Hostel for blinded soldiers was closed. £775 had been raised in the Division, this amount being £130 more than had been raised by any other division of the 1st Corps.