All good things come to an end in time--a law which fortunately applies also to their opposites--and 7.30 a.m. on December 8th found the battalion climbing once more into buses on the Crezeques--Autingues road to visit the area north of Ypres once more. After debussing we proceeded, two companies each, to two adjacent camps in the Proven area which rejoiced in the names of Privett and Portsdown, the latter being also the home of Battalion Headquarters. They were the usual camps of the area, no worse--possibly a little better--than the average. They consisted of Nissen huts. Training continued here for a few days prior to going into the line, which was visited by the Commanding Officer, accompanied by five officers, on December 12th for two days' instruction, from which they returned on December 14th. The Adjutant, Captain Wurtzburg, reported from England for duty just before the battalion went into the line, and Captain C. W. Wilson in consequence gave up his duties as Adjutant and took over the appointment of Second-in-Command, with the subsequent acting rank of Major. CHAPTER VI PASSCHENDAELE (SECOND TIME)--ARMENTIÈRES--ST. HILAIRE (SECOND TIME)--ARREWAGE--FLEURBAIX On December 16th, at 8.45 in the morning, the battalion moved off from camp to Proven Station, where we duly entrained for Boesinghe, the transport moving to Birbeck Camp, near Elverdinghe. On arrival at Boesinghe a dispute arose with the 2/5th K.L.R. as to the camp which each of us was to occupy, the orders being conflicting. Eventually we agreed to take Canal Bank Camp, and the 2/5th K.L.R. the more bleak and exposed Baboon Camp, which from our point of view was a satisfactory arrangement. As this was the second time the battalion had been in this area, there is no need to describe it further. It looked almost as inhospitable as ever, though certain traces of civilization had begun to appear. The enemy put a few shells in to the camp that night, but did no serious damage. The next day (December 17th) everyone was busy with preparations for going into the line. Gum-boots and extra water-bottles had to be drawn from Baboon Camp, and men had to be issued with "Tommy cookers," two days' preserved rations, and spare socks. The weather was now very cold, with occasional snow-storms, and offered a very poor prospect of pleasant conditions in the line. At 3.30 p.m. "D" Company moved, followed at quarter-hour intervals by "A" (support) Company, and "B" and "C" in reserve. To Battalion Headquarters the distance was about six miles, the whole route being along a duck-board track, called Clarges Street. The scene on either side of the track was the same--one unending chain of shell-holes, as usual in this part of the world. It was a long and tedious march. A whole battalion strung out on a tortuous and slippery track, with countless short twists to avoid shell-holes and greater twists to prevent accurate shelling, moves very slowly. There was also a long