CHAPTER I.

THE "SALIENT."

_First Phase._


The end of March, 1915, found the 50th (Northumbrian) Division of the
Territorial Force awaiting orders to proceed overseas. The infantry of
the Division consisted of the 149th Infantry Brigade (4th, 5th, 6th and
7th Battalions Northumberland Fusiliers), the 150th Infantry Brigade (4th
Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment, 4th and 5th Battalions Yorkshire
Regiment, and 5th Battalion The Durham Light Infantry), and the 151st
Infantry Brigade (6th, 7th, 8th and 9th Battalions The Durham Light
Infantry). Early in April, when the 6th Battalion The Durham Light
Infantry were in billets at Gateshead, the orders arrived and on the 10th
April Capt. F. Walton proceeded to Havre to make arrangements for the
arrival of the transport section. The first detachment of men to leave
Gateshead consisted of the transport and machine-gun sections which,
under Major J.E. Hawdon, Second in Command, and Lieut. H.T. Bircham,
Transport Officer, entrained at the Cattle Market, Newcastle, on the 17th
April for Southampton, _en route_ for Havre.

Two days later the remainder of the Battalion entrained at the Central
Station, Newcastle, with the following officers: Lieut.-Col. H.C. Watson
in command, Capt. J.W. Jeffreys, Adjutant; Major W.M. Mackay, Medical
Officer; Capt. A.P. Cummins, commanding A Company; Major S.E. Badcock,
commanding B Company; Capt. W.H.D. Devey, commanding C Company; and Capt.
J. Townend, commanding D Company. Arriving at Folkestone the same day,