Headquarters at Canterbury were at Dagmar House in Dane John, the men being billeted in all the neighbouring streets, Wincheap, York, Oxford, Guildford, and Martyrsfield Roads being the chief. A number of mules were received, of varying dispositions, the most notorious rejoicing in the name of "Lusitania." The end of 1915 found us plodding steadily on with the now somewhat monotonous round of general training, the only excitement being an occasional Zeppelin scare or a more serious "stand to." The latter, during the earlier days of 1916, kept us for nearly a week in a state of readiness to move at half an hour's notice. Transport vehicles were kept fully loaded, and meals were served from field kitchens, while trains stood waiting with steam up in the station. During the first three months of 1916 fourteen drafts of "Derby" recruits were received, numbering in all 319 men. Some of these men we thought were rather old at first, but they turned out splendidly. These drafts were distributed into squads under specially selected instructors, whence they were drafted as they became qualified into the companies to which they had been posted. The care and attention lavished on these men were productive of excellent results, as the records of many of them can testify. A Brigade N.C.Os.' class was also held during this period at Old Park, and was conducted by Captain Barnett. Training, owing to the weather, was apt to be confined to the "vicinity of billets" or the Presbyterian Hall. Dane John was generally tenanted by signallers or other specialists. We also had occasional field days at Bridge, and withheld stoutly the attacking Germans who had invariably landed at St. Margaret's Bay. In February our first Lewis guns were received, and the number went on increasing from that time till about the spring of 1918, when we reached a total of twenty-eight. Rumours of the separation of machine gunners into a new machine gun corps had been for some time afloat, and on May 2nd twenty-two men of the battalion were discharged and re-enlisted in the Machine Gun Corps. The quick promotion which practically all these obtained is a proof of the good tone of the battalion and of the magnificent instruction which the men had received under Lieutenant Bowring. A draft of 150 men had been sent just prior to this to the Third Line _en route_ for overseas, but the majority reappeared shortly after. A party, under Captain Gilling, was detached at Birchington for some time, working on the defences, and a small observation post for hostile aircraft was stationed at Wootton, and a party was also kept at the R.F.C. ground, Bekesbourne. On April 19th the battalion was inspected at Sturry by General Right Hon. Sir Arthur Paget, who expressed himself favourably impressed; and on May 8th the Commanding Officer went to France for a tour in the line, bringing back many valuable hints. He spent his time in front of Gommecourt, a spot that was to be very familiar to us later on.