and our confidence in them was quite complete. On the 10th May, just
before we left the sector, we had a little excitement in the front line.
A German bombing party suddenly rushed "E1 Left," a rotten little
"grouse-butt" trench only 37 yards from the enemy, and held by the 4th
Leicestershires, and succeeded in inflicting several casualties before
they made off, leaving one dead behind them. This in itself was not
much, but both sides opened rapid rifle fire, and the din was so
terrific that supports were rushed up, reserves "stood to" to
counter-attack, and it was nearly an hour before we were able to resume
normal conditions. The following day we returned to the huts, where we
were joined by 2nd Lieut. L.H. Pearson who was posted to "A" Company;
2nd Lieut. Aked's place had already been filled by Lieut. C.F. Shields
from the Reserve Battalion. 2nd Lieut. G.W. Allen, who had been away
with measles, also returned to us during April.

Our next stay in the Locre huts can hardly be called a rest. First, on
the 12th May, the enemy raided the 4th Lincolnshires in G1 and G2
trenches, where, at "Peckham Corner," they hoped to be able to destroy
one of our mine galleries. The raid was preceded by a strong trench
mortar bombardment, during which the Lincolnshire trenches were badly
smashed about, and several yards of them so completely destroyed that
our "A" Company were sent up the next evening to assist in their repair.
They stayed in the line for twenty-four hours, returning to the huts at
4 p.m. on the 14th, to find that the rest of the Battalion was about to
move to the Ypres neighbourhood. The previous day the German attacks had
increased in intensity, and the cavalry who had been sent up to fill the
gap had suffered very heavily, among them being the Leicestershire
Yeomanry, who had fought for many hours against overwhelming odds,
losing Col. Evans-Freke and many others. There was great danger that if
these attacks continued, the enemy would break through, and consequently