Arr

to excel anything we had ever had before in the way of festivities, and this was possible now that we were out of action. Quarter-Master-Sergeants, pu

tteries for the possession of the only two live pigs in the village, which eventually went to the highest bidders, while the remainder procured their joints in the form of pork from Doullens. One of the batteries meanwhile grew so attached to its prospective Chris

we were safely lodged in billets, and it was a typical old-fashioned yule-tide, with a plentiful fall of snow followed by hard frost. The little village was in a she

en over to sports and concerts, and the climax of enjoyment was reached at night when the men partook of their din

its, and these were by no means diminished when it became known that our next area was in front of Arras. It was recognised to be an enviable part of the line to be situated in, especially during the winter months. It

the sector north of Monchy to the vicinity of Gavrelle, with the heights o

y of the river Scarpe, and we took over from a Scottish Division. The enemy lines wer

the heights facing Vitry, and, on a clear day, Douai w

ding through Fampoux, on its western extremity, while the other two guns were moved forward, east of the same village, behind a bank, and carefully camouflaged. As this sector was extraordinarily quiet and there was not sufficient work to keep everyone occupied, the Battery Commander decided to commence construction and endeavour to make our position a model one. Two pits, which were already in existence, were pulled down and rebuilt, and two others were constructed alongside, and all of them were placed

ounding ruins, and all manner of "eye wash" was employed in making the pits look well. A communication trench was dug from one extremity to the other, rive

spacious dining hall, telephone pit, cook house, and they even possessed a moderate sized bath room, which was highly valued and put to great use. The officers' quarters were no less sumptuously fitted out. Eac

fficers and their batmen, under the pe

a stove and gramaphone, there was nothing left to wish for, and the place was most cosy and snug. The entrance, too, was the admiration of everybody, nicely tiled and decorated with fancy carvings from the utterly destroyed church. Iron girders, beams, and countless bricks to the height of several feet rested on top of our home. It is not to be wondered at, then, that this model position was frequently visited by hig

men had such comfortable quarters. Thus we settled down to a life of ease, such as we had not

mboat service, running daily on the Scarpe, which landed one close to the Officers' Club,

, as well as other prominent buildings, but, on the whole, the town had escaped wonderfully considering how close the enemy had been to it for so long. Now, of course, the enemy was over six miles away, and the city could n

chez road, within easy reach of the former place. Accommodation for Officers and men was provided by Nissen huts, containing

p the horses up to condition. The frost did not continue and in the early months of the year the weather was wonderfully bright and

and appreciates anything done for him in the way of comfort. He also becomes very cute and cunning, and always knows the routine of the day, and can tell his tim

nce when he was "warned" for the line. Now, he disliked going out at nights, and consequently was in the habit of "scrimp-shanking," and proceeded f

ervous at being touched. After hours of coaxing he allowed his section officer and driver to handle him, and, at length, showed great affectio

rring large numbers of troops, which had been released by the collapse of Russia, to the Western front. Consequently every unit got busy at once

tions, in case a retiral should be necessary, and fi

uring the third week of March, the troops were warned of an i