the Rev. C.B.W.  Buck.  The march was good, and no one fell out until the last half mile, a steep hill into billets, which was too much for six men; as we had done no real marching for several months, this was very satisfactory.  There was only one incident of interest on the way, a small collision between the heavily laden mess cart and the level crossing gates at Doullens, due to the anxiety of the lady gate-keeper to close the gates and let the Paris express through, a feat which she accomplished, despite all the efforts of our Transport, which was consequently cut in half.  The following day it rained again, and we marched to Conteville, stayed a night, and went on to Millencourt the next morning.  Here we found good billets and, as we were told we were likely to remain a month, fixed up a Battalion Mess in the Farm Chateau.

We were soon informed that we had not come to Millencourt to rest, but to carry out “intensive training” to fit us for offensive action.  This meant very hard work all the morning, many afternoons, and two or three nights a week as well.  The idea was to devote the first week to Platoon and Company work, the next to Battalion drill and training, and to finish our course with some big Brigade and Divisional days.  The weather was not very good, but we managed to do many hours work, the usual physical training, bayonet fighting, steady drill, and extended order work, night compass work and lectures.  The most exciting event was one of the night trainings, when Col.  Jones combined cross country running with keeping direction in the dark.  The running was very successful, but the runners failed to keep direction, and ran for many miles, getting in many cases completely lost; far into the night the plaintive notes of the recall bugle could be heard in the various villages of the neighbourhood.

Soon after our arrival a Divisional Sports Committee drew up a programme for a meeting to be held at the end of our training, and to consist of football, boxing, and cross country running.  Eliminating heats and events had to be decided beforehand, and, with Lieut.  Heffill and Serjt.  J. Wardle to look after the boxing, and Capt.  Shields as “O.C.  Football,” we started training without delay.  At the football we had our usual luck, for, after a good victory over the 4th Lincolnshires, we were once more beaten by our own 4th Battalion.  The last game was very exciting, and feeling ran so high that the language on the touch line became terrible, and would have shocked even a Brigadier.  The finals of the boxing and cross country running could not take place until later when we had left the area.  On one or two of the spare afternoons we managed to get some Rugby football, and had some excellent games, during which we discovered that our Padre was a performer of considerable merit.