The really serious blow they took was the departure at the month’s end of Lord Cavan, their Brigadier, to command the Fiftieth Division. They had known and loved him as a man who understood their difficulties, who bore his share, and more, of their hardships, and whose sympathy, unsparing devotion and, above all, abounding cheery common-sense, had carried them at every turn so far through the campaign. He bid them farewell at Béthune on the 28th, where they were in rest-billets, in these words: I have come to say good-bye to you, as I have to go away and take command of the Fiftieth Division. I wish to thank the Irish Guards for all they have done since they have been under my command. Before the war they had had no opportunity of proving themselves worthy to take their place in the Brigade of Guards. But during the course of this war they have always conducted themselves worthy of taking their place with the other illustrious Regiments of the Brigade of Guards--and more so. It is part of all of you young officers, who have taken the place of those who have fallen, to keep up the reputation of the Battalion, and you have a difficult task, as its reputation is very high. I need hardly say how much I feel leaving the 4th (Guards) Brigade, and I would rather remain its Brigadier than be a Field-Marshal elsewhere. General Feilding, whom you all know, is coming to take my place, and I could not leave you in better hands. I wish you all luck. His special farewell order ran: _28th June 1915._ On leaving the Brigade to take Command of a Division it would not be seemly to recall the various actions since 18th September in which it has been my privilege and my delight to command you, but I may say this--whether in action, in trenches, or in billets, no unit of the 4th (Guards) Brigade has ever disappointed me, nor has any Battalion ever fallen short of that great standard set us by our predecessors. We welcomed the 1st Herts Territorials at Ypres, and most worthily have they borne their part with the rest of us. To you all I convey the gratitude of a very full heart, and I wish you Good-bye and God Speed. (Sd.) CAVAN, Brigadier-General Commanding 4th (Guards) Brigade. And for recognition of their work in the trenches for the past three weeks, the following was sent from the G.O.C. Second Division to the Officer commanding the Irish Guards: The Brigadier-General has received the following letter from the G.O.C. Second Division, and he would like C.O.’s to arrange that all the men hear it, so that they may realise how fully their splendid efforts are appreciated both by General Horne and himself: