But the fear that the enemy might intend a limited offensive on this front had not yet subsided, and elaborate orders dealing with this situation were still being issued. Meanwhile Battalion Headquarters, on August 15th, returned to Bac St. Maur, where they had more than enough to keep them occupied, as the first draft, consisting of 111 men, had arrived the previous day. On August 16th Lieutenant-General Sir R. C. B. Haking, commanding XI. Corps, presented Riflemen Bailey and Mills with the Military Medal which they had been awarded in Armentières. On August 18th "A" and "D" Companies rejoined at Bac St. Maur; and the Company of the 2/5th K.L.R., who had been attached to us to strengthen the "battalion on Divisional Reserve," returned to their own unit. Drafts now came in apace. On August 18th drafts of 192, 61, and 131 men arrived. After these had been posted, the draft of 61 men proved to have been intended for the 2/8th K.L.R., and had to be given up. All these parties were inspected on August 21st by Brigadier-General Bray. On the 24th the battalion moved into Fleurbaix, finding posts for the subsidiary line; and during this period two more drafts, of 79 and 45 men respectively, joined the battalion. The end of August found our effective strength 756 men, the highest figure that we had achieved since the end of February. [Illustration: HOUPLINES ROAD, LOOKING TOWARDS ARMENTIÈRES.] [Illustration: BOCHE FRONT LINE OPPOSITE LEFT SECTOR, HOUPLINES. FRELINGHIEN IN BACKGROUND AND RIVER LYS IN FLOOD.] On September 2nd the battalion--and it was a complete battalion now--relieved the 2/7th K.L.R. in La Boutillerie: "A" Company on the right, "B" in the centre, "D" on the left, and "C" in the subsidiary line. Headquarters were situated at Foray House. This latter spot had been heavily shelled on August 21st when the Portuguese held the line, the intention of the Germans, according to the Portuguese official report, being "to disorganize the Battalion Staff for future operations"; which laudable object, the report naively added, "was attained by 10 a.m., at which time the orderly-room, kitchen mess, and orderlies' dug-outs were damaged." However, as far as we were concerned, the enemy took very little interest in us, and the time was exceptionally quiet. Moreover, the weather had turned fine and warm again, which made life pleasant as well as peaceful. The left sector occasionally received attention in the form of trench mortar shooting, which, we remembered, was characteristic of that corner of France, but it was not sufficient to cause any serious results.