five large farm houses, all very scattered and very smelly, the
smelliest being Battalion Headquarters, called by Major Martin "La Ferme
de L'Odeur affreuse." The Signalling officer attempted to link up the
farms by telephone, but his lines, which consisted of the thin
enamelled wire issued at the time, were constantly broken by the
farmers' manure carts, and the signallers will always remember the place
with considerable disgust. One farmer was very pleased with himself,
having rolled up some 200 yards of our line under the impression that
all thin wire must be German. The rest of the Brigade had now arrived,
and the other three Battalions were much annoyed to find that we were
already experienced soldiers--a fact which we took care to point out to
them on every possible occasion. Our only other amusement was the
leg-pulling of some newspaper correspondents, who, as the result of an
interview, made Major Martin a "quarry official," and Lieut. Vincent a
poultry farmer of considerable repute!

On the 11th March we marched to Sailly sur la Lys, better known as
"Sally on the loose," where with the Canadian Division we should be in
reserve, though we did not know it, for the battle of Neuve Chapelle.
The little town was crowded before even our billeting party arrived, and
it was only by some most brazen billet stealing, which lost us for ever
the friendship of the Divisional Cyclists, that we were able to find
cover for all, while many of the Lincolnshires had to bivouac in the
fields. Here we remained during the battle, but though the Canadians
moved up to the line, we were not used, and spent our time standing by
and listening to the gun fire. A 15" Howitzer, commanded by Admiral
Bacon and manned by Marine Artillery, gave us something to look at, and
it was indeed a remarkable sight to watch the houses in the
neighbourhood gradually falling down as each shell went off. There was
also an armoured train which mounted three guns, and gave us much