Our stay in Lille was all too short. We felt we were far too comfortable to be left alone, and before the month was out rumours of a move, either forward or back, filled the air. Eventually we found that Arras was to be our destination, and as there were reputed to be only fifty houses or so intact in that ill-used town, the prospect was none of the brightest, especially as there was every indication of a wet winter. At 8.30 a.m. on December 2nd the battalion moved off to join the Brigade group, Major Grant-Dalton in command. Colonel Gathorne-Hardy had proceeded to England on November 24th, whence, to our very great regret, he never returned, having while on leave been transferred to the Home Establishment. He had been a most popular Commanding Officer, and during his command of the battalion during many days of fighting had won the respect and confidence of all ranks. The route was viâ Lezennes, Ronchin, Lesquin, Templemars, and Seclin. Carvin, our destination, was reached at 1.30 p.m., and we found ourselves accommodated in huts for the night. Most of these were of German construction, and sunk in the ground by the roadside with wonderful skill from the point of view of concealment. Carvin itself is a dismal and depressing spot. We were off again the next day (December 3rd, 1918) at 7.45 a.m., and in spite of the weather the march was interesting enough, as the route lay past Lens and the Vimy Ridge. The former place is probably the largest ruined town in France. Without being absolutely levelled to the ground, it yet possesses no building that can be described as anything but a ruin. Shattered masonry and woodwork are heaped in the wildest chaos in every direction, mingled with broken machinery and all kinds of interior fittings. There is not one single roof in position, not a wall that is not pierced or shattered. Standing as the place does on the slope of a hill, the effect of the annihilation which has visited the town is very striking. The Vimy Ridge is a bold, upstanding piece of ground, bare as bare can be, and dotted now with graves and monuments. In this part of the country it forms a very marked eminence, though in reality of no great height. It rained steadily as we tramped along the slippery _pavé_, and the aspect of our billets, with the rain pouring through the rents in roof and wall, was enough to dismay the boldest heart. As may be imagined, after the comforts of Lille these quarters were hardly popular, but the men accepted the situation nobly. It was 4.15 p.m. when we got in, and there was little enough time to make their billets habitable. The next and subsequent days the job was tackled with the utmost energy, while caustic reports were forwarded to the Higher Command.