On May 9th we marched by road to a camp of bell tents situated on the Amiens road just in rear of La Houssoye, billeting in the village itself being too dangerous owing to the incessant shell fire and bombing by the aeroplanes. Next morning, the battalion made preparations to take over the line opposite the Village of Morlancourt but since I had been detailed to go to the nucleus camp at Berteaucourt, I expended my time in making ready to travel thither. After seeing my valise safely deposited on the dump of similar gear for the camp at Berteaucourt, I made my way, accompanied by Capt. Morgan-Jones to the main Amiens road and very soon found myself on a motor lorry travelling rapidly along the packed road in the direction of Amiens. At Amiens, we changed lorries, arriving at Berteaucourt about 35 kilometres distant a little after midday. Here we obtained billets in an estaminet and settled down to enjoy a spell until we should be called on to rejoin our battalion. Not knowing just how long my period of rest would last, I made as much use of my spare time after parades, in seeking as much pleasure as I could find. Whilst at Berteaucourt I was able to obtain leave to the town of Doullens on two occasions. There I was able to indulge in the luxuries of civilization for the first time in several months. I literally gorged myself with fruit, wine and three course meals, enjoyed the luxury of a nice hot bath and a hair cut by a real live French barber.

After a week spent in comparative freedom, I was detailed to lead a draft of reinforcements to the village of La Houssoye. The draft only numbered about 30 all told, so that after marching about six kilometres to Vignacourt, I was able to obtain a lorry going towards the Corps Staging Camp at Vaulx, reaching that place within an hour, passing through the Village of Flesselles en-route. At Vaulx, the men were allotted to tents and were issued with rations, being allowed to leave to Flesselles as soon as tea had been given them at 4.30 pm.

Next morning, the draft was paraded and the names checked. When all were found present, we set out along the dusty road and at last reached Allanville Wood, tired and hungry at about 3 pm. Here we remained, camping in tents pitched in the wood, for the night, proceeding as before by road next morning to the Headquarters at La Houssoye. The men were then sorted up and sent to their various units under their own N.C.O.’s. I however, was required to travel a further three kilometres to advanced Brigade Headquarters at Heilly to make my report. Having done so, satisfactorily, I was directed to return to La Houssoye Wood and there remain for the night at the 20th Btn Transport lines, before reporting back to Berteaucourt.

Night came with a bright moon shining and with it the usual visit from German night bombing planes. Knowing, I suppose that this and the surrounding woods were likely to harbour the transport of the battalions holding the line, these planes flew for hours in the vicinity, dropping bombs continuously the while on any point which they took to be a suitable target. Whilst these raids were in progress, it was always advisable to take shelter in a dugout or trench and let the planes do their worst, since our aircraft guns and machine guns seldom were able, even with the aid of the numerous searchlights to have the effect of driving the enemy from the neighbourhood before they had performed their set task and with so much explosive material dropping so near it was none too wise to expose oneself unnecessarily..

Next morning after a fair night’s rest shared in Capt. Ken’s Q.M. store tent with the Battalion Padre, Capt. Crawford, I set out to return to the village of Berteaucourt. Taking the usual means of transport, such as lorries going in the right direction, Officers Mess carts and so forth, I eventually arrived back at that village and rejoined the strength of the rest camp.

The next two days I spent in visiting the town of Doullens, at the instance of Col. Sadler of the 17th Btn. in order to purchase a supply of sporting material to be used by the men in camp during the hours of recreation. Accordingly, I purchased in Doullens at the Depot of Messrs. Spalding & CO. a supply of hockey sticks, bats, and boxing gloves to the value of 250 francs most of which was contributed by the N.C.O.’s and Officers in camp. I was not destined to witness anything in the nature of sport, however, because within twenty-four hours of returning from Doullens, I was again detailed to conduct a draft of details to the front line Brigade headquarters. Having accomplished this duty as satisfactorily as on the previous occasion, I was ordered to report to my own battalion headquarters in the Chalk Pit on the outskirts of Heilly, about which place the 20th Btn. were camped in reserve.