Winchester Trench 11 The March to the Somme 21 Somme Trench Map 36 Maison Ponthieu 45 Harbonnieres 50 The Ablaincourt Sector 57 A Duckboarded Communication Trench 72 The Advance to St. Quentin 82 The Raid near St. Quentin 94 Arras: The Grande Place 110 Noeux Village 113 Poperinghe from the West 119 The Attack of August 22, 1917 124 The Attack on Hill 35 132 The Retreat behind the Somme 166 Bird's-eye Map of the Robecq Area 180 The Nieppe Forest 202 Merville Church 206 Battalion H.Q. at Chapelle Boom 209 CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION 1 Chapter I. LAVENTIE, May to October, 1916 8 The 61st Division lands in France.--Instruction.--The Laventie sector.--Trench warfare at its height.--Moberly wounded.--B Company's raid.--Front and back areas.--July 19.--Changes in the Battalion.--A Company's raid.--A projected attack.--Laventie days.--Departure for the Somme. Chapter II. THE SOMME BATTLEFIELD, November, 1916 19 Departure from Laventie.--At Robecq.--The march southwards. --Rest at Neuvillette.--Contay Wood.--Albert.--New trenches.--Battle conditions.--Relieving the front line.-- Desire Trench.--Regina dug-out.--Mud and darkness.--A heavy barrage.--Fortunes of Headquarters.--A painful relief.-- Martinsart Wood. Chapter III. CHRISTMAS ON THE SOMME, December, 1916 33 The move from Martinsart to Hedauville.--Back to Martinsart.-- Working parties.--Dug-outs at Mouquet Farm.--Field Trench.-- Return to the front line.--Getting touch.--Guides.--An historic patrol.--Christmas in the trenches. Chapter IV. AT MAISON PONTHIEU, January-February, 1917 42 Visitors to the Battalion.--The New Year.--A wintry march.-- Arrival at Maison Ponthieu.--Severe weather.--At war with the cold.--Training for offensive action.--By rail to Marcelcave. --Billets at Rainecourt.--Reconnoitring the French line near Deniecourt. Chapter V. IN THE ABLAINCOURT SECTOR, February, 1917 53