railways, bridges, etc. Meanwhile the division had made its debut in
France, the 125th and 126th brigades having taken over part of the line
during the pursuit of the Hun.

The 7th suffered their first casualty in the new theatre of war at
Peronne in a rather unfortunate manner. Whilst on a fatigue of salving
telephone wire on the battle-swept ground of Biaches, just outside the
town, Pte. Gibson of "C" company was accidentally killed by a bomb,
whose explosive mechanism he had unwittingly set in action when pulling
up the wire.




CHAPTER IV.

Holding the Line.


EPEHY.

On April 27th, our period of fatigues ended, the 7th Manchesters marched
out of Peronne in the full panoply of war, not gaudy, but serviceable
for modern requirements and not lacking the element of weight, with the
certain knowledge that their next deeds would be accomplished "in the
presence of the enemy." The enemy of 1917 and after was not so elusive
as the Turk of the Sinai, so there was no possibility of marching on and
on and never feeling his force! That night was spent at Villers Faucon,
and next day preparations were completed for relieving the 4th East
Lancs. in the front line trenches east of Epehy. An advance party of an