The water-supply was the chief problem of the R.E., and the exceptional experience of the C.R.E., Lieut.-Colonel J. G. Riddick, with water difficulties in Gallipoli and Sinai proved invaluable to the Division.[19] This part of France had little surface water. There was none between the Ancre at Miraumont and the Canal du Nord at Ytres, and the shafts of village wells had been blown in by the enemy. By the capture of Miraumont control of the sources of the Ancre was obtained, and the engineers of the 42nd and New Zealand Divisions at once got to work on the erection of dozens of horse-troughs and a number of water-cart filling-points. During the advance beyond Miraumont all water had to be carried forward in Garford lorries to some improvised water-point as near the firing-line as possible. At this point canvas tanks of 2300 or 9000 gallons capacity were erected, and the lorries were at work at all hours of the day and night to keep the tanks filled. Lift-and-force pumps were then installed, and by their means the battalion water-carts were supplied. Credit is due to Lieut.-Colonel R. J. Slaughter, D.S.O., and the “Q” department for their excellent organization, upon which the advance depended. Artillery horses had to be watered at the occasional foul village ponds until damaged wells could be re-opened, a difficult task which the R.E. accomplished by working day and night. The need for water was so urgent that at times the Garford lorries had to be hurried forward along by-roads before the tunnellers and sappers had completed road reconnaissance, and one of these was blown to pieces by a road-mine, and its drivers killed. The Signal Company established Visual Stations as far forward as possible, and also supplemented electrical communications by using wireless, pigeons, and Mounted Orderlies. The destruction of roads in the line of advance, and the multitude of shell-holes which pitted the face of the country, made conditions exceptionally difficult for the R.A.S.C., but supplies never failed, thanks to the energy and skill with which the 7th N.F. Pioneers repaired and re-made the roads, and to the expert work of the sappers and tunnellers who unearthed innumerable booby-traps on roads and in dug-outs. Supply tanks gave invaluable aid in bringing up trench mortars, water and ammunition of all kinds. The work of the R.A.M.C. was carried out skilfully and with creditable smoothness, casualties being treated and evacuated with a degree of comfort that could hardly have been expected under the conditions of constant movement, the Field Ambulances keeping up with the infantry, and setting up Aid Posts wherever they could find suitable shelter. Stretcher-bearers went through shell and machine-gun fire calmly and deliberately in the performance of their duties. Officers and men from the highest to the lowest, had complete confidence in one another.[20] [Sidenote: _Captures and Casualties_]