by Capt. John Burnett with the rest of the Transport. The latter had
come by road, spending one night in bivouacs at Vieux Berquin on the
way. This move brought us into the First Army under Sir Douglas Haig,
who took an early opportunity of being introduced to all Commanding
Officers and Adjutants in the Division, coming to Brigade Headquarters
at Gonnehem on the afternoon of the 3rd, where Col. Jones and Lieut.
G.W. Allen went to a conference. Lieut. Allen had become Adjutant when
Capt. Griffiths was wounded, and Capt. Langdale was wanted for command
of "B" Company. Our other Company Commanders remained unchanged except
that Major Bland returned from England and took charge of "D."

The billets at Bellerive, consisting of large, clean farmhouses, were
very comfortable, but we were not destined to stay there long, and on
the 6th marched through Chocques to Hesdigneul, where there was less
accommodation. The following day there was a conference at Brigade
Headquarters, and we learnt our fate. On the 25th September, the opening
day of the Loos battle, the left of the British attack had been directed
against "Fosse 8"--a coal mine with its machine buildings, miners'
cottages and large low slag dump--protected by a system of trenches
known as the "Hohenzollern Redoubt," standing on a small rise 1,000
yards west of the mine. This had all been captured by the 9th Division,
but owing to counter-attacks from Auchy and Haisnes, had had to be
abandoned, and the enemy had once more occupied the Redoubt. A second
attempt, made a few days later by the 28th Division, had been
disastrous, for we had had heavy casualties, and gained practically no
ground, and except on the right, where we had occupied part of "Big
Willie" trench, the Redoubt was still intact. Another attempt was now to
be made at an early date, and, while 12th and 1st Divisions attacked to
the South, the North Midland was to sweep over the Redoubt and capture
Fosse 8, consolidating a new line on the East side of it.