[66] See page 40, above. [67] See page 7, above. [68] Army Council Instruction, No. 1830, of September 21st, 1916; 9/V.F./128 (T.F. 2). [69] “The configuration of the ground in the neighbourhood of the Ancre Valley was such that every fresh advance would enfilade the enemy’s positions, and automatically open up to the observation of our troops some new part of his defences. Arrangements could therefore be made for systematic and deliberate attacks to be delivered on selected positions.”—_Despatches_, page 63. [70] Captain Tom Goodall, D.S.O., M.C., to whom I am much indebted for the loan of this diary, and of some documents, etc., which he was at pains to collect and has kindly put at my disposal. [71] Later in the year, the surgical skill of French gardeners succeeded in some instances in joining the severed arteries of these trees. [72] _Despatches_, page 102. [73] _Despatches_, page 76. [74] Nelson’s _History of the War_, Vol. XIX., page 23. [75] _Despatches_, pages 82-83. [76] _Despatches_, page 93. [77] _Blackwood’s Magazine_, July, 1919. See page 131, above. The articles have been collected in book-form since this chapter was in type. [78] The present writer is indebted to Captain Joseph Walker for the particulars of this gallant and desperate exploit. [79] 58th and 62nd Divisions, Major-General H. D. Fanshawe, Commanding the 58th Division. [80] _Despatches_, pages 99 and 102. [81] Competitors mounted and armed with a pick-handle dribbled the ball 100 yards, then round a post and back to shoot through a goal. [82] Ride a mule and drive another (tandem) round a course through various obstacles, finish with 100 yards down the straight. [83] Run in heats of 16 or less. In front of each competitor, standing dismounted in line, is a row of stones at 10 yards distance from each other. At the word ‘go,’ mount, and bring each stone severally and drop it into bucket. [84] _Despatches_, pages 127, 129, 130. In a footnote to the first passage (page 127) F.M. Earl Haig has amplified the causes which led to the continuing of the Ypres offensive by a summary of a speech delivered in the House of Commons (August 6th, 1919) by Major-General Sir John Davidson, M.P. [85] _Ibid._, page 133. [86] See page 48, above. [87] ‘Any port except Nieuport’ became a catchword. [88] See page 59, above. [89] A Special Order of October 19th contained the following message from the retiring General Officer Commanding: ‘On giving up the Command of the Division which I have held since July, 1915, I wish to thank all ranks for their invariable loyal support, and to express my great admiration for their gallant conduct and for the cheerful manner in which they have borne the many hardships which they have had to endure.