peace, when at 2-30 p.m. orders came for us to go to Kruisstraat at
once. We marched by Companies, and on arrival bivouacked in a field
close to the Indian Transport Lines, where we met several Battalions of
the 3rd Division on their way up to Hooge, though they were unable to
tell us anything definite about what had happened. The wildest rumours
were heard everywhere, that the Germans had used burning oil, vitriol,
and almost every other acid ever invented, that the salient was broken,
that our Division had been surrounded. One thing was certain--that at 4
p.m. the gunfire had almost ceased, and there was no sign of any German
near Ypres.

As soon as it was dark we left Kruisstraat and marched by Bridge 14 and
Zillebeke to Maple Copse, where we were told to bivouac for the night,
still being ready to move at very short notice if required. Here we
found a Battalion of the Sherwood Foresters, from whom we were at last
able to learn the truth of the morning's battle. It appeared that at
dawn the enemy, carrying flame projectors, had crept close up to the
front line trenches in Hooge, and suddenly lighting these machines had
sent a spray of burning vaporised oil over the trench. The garrison,
14th Division, were surprised, many of them burnt, and all thrown into
confusion, during which the Boche attacked in considerable force, drove
them out and broke in as far as Zouave Wood. The left of the Sherwood
Foresters had been attacked, but stood firm, even though the Germans in
Zouave Wood were almost behind them, until General Shipley ordered the
flank to be dropped back to conform with the new line. A counter-attack
was delivered during the day by two Battalions of the Rifle Brigade,
who, relieved the night before, had marched eight miles out to rest and
eight miles back again at once, and were hopelessly tired before they
started. In spite of this, they made a gallant effort, and were wiped
out almost to a man in Zouave Wood. At the time of the morning attack