German retreat foreshadowed.--The Battalion takes over the Ablaincourt Sector.--Issues in the making.--Lieutenant Fry mortally wounded.--The raid by German storm-troops on February 28.--The raid explained. Chapter VI. LIFE IN THE FRONT LINE, Winter, 1916-1917 67 Ignorance of civilians and non-combatants.--The front line posts.--Hardships and dangers.--Support platoons.--The Company Officers.--The Battalion relieved by the 182nd Brigade. Chapter VII. THE ADVANCE TO ST. QUENTIN, March to April, 1917 77 The enemy's retirement.--Road-mending in No-Man's-Land.--The devastated area.--Open warfare.--The Montolu campaign.-- Operations on the Omignon river.--The 61st Division relieved before St. Quentin.--End of trench-warfare. Chapter VIII. THE RAID AT FAYET, April, 1917 89 A German vantage-point.--Shell-ridden Holnon.--A night of confusion.--Preparing for the raid of April 28.--The enemy taken by surprise.--The Battalion's first V.C.--The affair at Cepy Farm. Chapter IX. ARRAS AND AFTERWARDS, May, June, July, 1917 103 Relief by the French at St. Quentin.--A new Commanding Officer. --At the Battle of Arras.--Useful work by A Company.-- Harassing fire.--A cave-dwelling.--At Bernaville and Noeux. --In G.H.Q. reserve.--A gas alarm by General Hunter Weston.-- The Ypres arena. Chapter X. THE THIRD BATTLE OF YPRES, August, 1917 116 A Battalion landmark.--Poperinghe and Ypres.--At Goldfish Chateau.--The attack near St. Julien on August 22.--Its results.--A mud-locked battle.--The back-area.--Mustard gas.--Pill-box warfare. Chapter XI. THE ATTACK ON HILL 35, September, 1917 132 Iberian, Hill 35, and Gallipoli.--The Battalion ordered to make the seventh attempt against Hill 35.--The task.--A and D Companies selected.--The assembly position.--Gassed by our own side.--Waiting for zero.--The attack.--Considerations governing its failure.--The Battalion quits the Ypres battlefield. Chapter XII. AUTUMN AT ARRAS AND THE MOVE TO CAMBRAI, October, November, December, 1917 142 The Battalion's return to Arras.--A quiet front.--The Brigadier and his staff.--A novelty in tactics.--B Company's raid.--A sudden move.--The Cambrai front.--Havrincourt Wood.--Christmas at Suzanne. Chapter XIII. THE GREAT GERMAN ATTACK OF MARCH 21, January-March, 1918 156 The French relieved on the St. Quentin front.--The calm before the storm.--A golden age.--The Warwick raid.--The German attack launched.--Defence of Enghien Redoubt.--Counter-attack by the Royal Berks.--Holnon Wood lost.--The battle for the Beauvoir line.--The enemy breaks through.