morning in this tour, a few hours after we had been visited by General
Byng, the Corps Commander, who went round the front line. On this
occasion we had two killed and six wounded by a direct hit on the
trench, while the F.O.O., who was observing at the time, was also badly
wounded.

Towards the end of the tour the situation became quieter and we went
once more into the Talus to wait for relief by the 25th Division, whose
advance parties had already visited the line, and who were expected in a
few days. The Boyau d'Ersatz, re-named Ersatz Alley for the sake of
simplicity, had lately been heavily shelled, and it was therefore
decided to open up Boyau 1, 2, 3, as an alternative route to trenches,
calling it "Wortley Avenue," in honour of the Major General. Parties
from all companies worked day and night at this, soon making it
passable, though it would always be dangerously exposed to view.
Unfortunately "A" Company were shelled one day while at work, and we
lost 2nd Lieut. Pickworth, who had to be sent to Hospital, and
eventually to England, with a bad wound in the lungs.

Meanwhile offensive mining operations were being undertaken by both
sides with increased activity. The British Tunnellers, who had relieved
the French mining companies, found that in several places, unless they
themselves blew big mines at once, the Boche would blow them instead, so
blew big craters without delay. To this the Boche retaliated, and for
the past week there had been an average of two mines a night on the
Divisional front, most of them in the sector on our right. But on the
night of the 20th our Brigade was also involved, and the 4th
Lincolnshires lost most of their centre company in an explosion which
demolished nearly 100 yards of their front line. The shock was terrific,
and could be felt so violently even in our valley behind, that Captain