“Dawn had not quite broken, and a half moon was shining in a cloudless sky. All was as quiet as the grave when suddenly a big gun fired, and instantaneously, from one end of the horizon to the other, the barrage started.... Looking back it seemed that the sky was on fire for miles and miles, and the ground shook. In front there was one long flickering crashing line of bursting shells—a wall of fire 70 yards in front of us. What a barrage it was! I believe we could have followed it to Berlin.... A barrage is a terrifying thing to be under, as always a few men are knocked out by splinters or ‘shorts,’ but it is necessary to keep right under it and prevent the Boche putting his head up before you are on top of him. We would advance, then kneel down to wait for the barrage to creep forward, and by the light of the bursting shells I could see right down the line, and it was a wonderful sight. The men were in as straight a line as though dressed on parade, every man motionless on one knee, the moon glinting on bayonet and steel helmet. As we went forward again, the line would break up as men darted in and out of trenches and shell-holes to clear out the Boche, and then ‘back again to the line of the barrage!’ That is the secret of success.” [23] One of the pack-mules, when crossing, deliberately jumped into the water, dragging his driver in. It was the second time the mule had behaved in this way. The driver got the animal and its load to the enemy’s side and, while shells and bullets were whizzing around, he admonished his charge on its folly. “This is the second ⸺ time you’ve done this,” he said. “If you fancy yourself as a ⸺ submarine, you’re ⸺ well mistaken. Coom on!” [24] The Forêt de Mormal, covering more than thirty-four square miles, is referred to by Field-Marshal Viscount French, in his book “1914,” as a serious obstacle to his retiring army. It was a still greater obstacle to the Advance of November 1918, as by that time the roads had undergone four years’ heavy wear, without repairs, and there was no material other than logs and fascines that could be used in the work of making deviations round the huge craters. ROLL OF HONOUR “Their name liveth for evermore” Killed, Died of Wounds or Sickness, and Missing HEADQUARTERS STAFF Brig.-Gen. Noel Lee, Commanding 127th Infantry Brigade. Brig.-Gen. V. A. Ormsby, Commanding 127th Infantry Brigade. Captain L. Gordon, Brigade Major, 126th Infantry Brigade. ‘A’ SQUADRON, 1/1 DUKE OF LANCASTER’S OWN YEOMANRY _Officers_ Bibby, Maj. H. L. Crook, Lieut. P. J. _Other Ranks_ Ashman, Tpr. L. Berry, Tpr. O. Birch, Tpr. J. W. Fox, Tpr. S. Harris, Cpl. S.S. A. Harrison, Tpr. J. F. Hills, Tpr. H. McKenna, Tpr. R. Moore, Tpr. G. W. Nickells, Tpr. W. C. Siddall, L.-Cpl. T. H. Smith, Tpr. A. Stott, Tpr. H. Turner, S.S. S. Williams, Tpr. J. H. Williams, Tpr. T. 42ND (EAST LANCS.) DIVISIONAL R.F.A. _Officers_