On September 14th, 1917, the battalions of the 5th Brigade were marched out to the Foret-de-Marie and there studied a ground plan of an operation which the Brigade was shortly to execute. The plan of the section of the battlefront which concerned each battalion was marked out in the open fields, flags denoting strong points, machine guns, etc. whilst tapes represented trenches and so on. The troops were then formed up as they were to perform the operation and were put over the ground to be attacked, thus allowing them to become familiar with the lay of the land, and to fix in their minds eye a picture of the general plan of battle. On September 17th the battalion formed up and left Arques and moved up via Hazebrouk to the Ypres Sector, where on September 20th the 2nd Division performed a brilliant operation, capturing Westhoek Ridge and the high ground beyond.

However, I was destined to miss that affair also, since I was detailed to the nucleus to remain behind when the battalion moved up as sergeant of the nucleus platoon. Having cleared up our billets, we marched out and proceeded by route march to Flêtre reinforcement camp near Baileuil where were billeted in tents. For two weeks, the nucleus of the Brigade remained at this camp, whilst in the firing line our battalions were fighting fiercely for possession of Paschendale Ridge. The idea of being out of it all did not please me very much, but by this time I had learned to take things as they came, so did not worry very much on that score. During our second day in Flêtre reinforcement camp, at dawn, we distinctly heard the sound of the drumfire of the barrage of guns as they pummelled the German trenches in preparation for the attack by the 2nd Division on September 20th.

On the fourth day, I was detailed to proceed to Boulogne in charge of an escort of two men to bring back a couple of prisoners from the guard room at Boulogne. Accordingly, we were issued with forty eight hours rations and proceeded in full marching order to Câstre, a railway town about four kilometres towards Hazebrouk. Here we boarded the leave train and after 12 hours journey arrived at Boulogne, where we reported to the A.P.M. We were informed that there was no train until the following night and that we could spend the next 24 hours on leave if we so wished.i We literally jumped at the opportunity and immediately wandered off to the cafes and picture shows, etc. where we enjoyed ourselves until bed time. Next day we repeated the performance, reporting back to the A.P.M.’s office at 8 pm. The two prisoners were then handed over to the escort and I marched them to the train, taking jolly good care that they got no opportunity to make a bolt. I watched them all that night like a cat watching a mouse as they lay sleeping on the floor of the goods van of the train, until at last we again arrived at our destination at Câstre.

We then marched our two “desperados” to Flêtre reinforcement camp, where we handed them over to the quarter guard for detention. Two days later, I was again detailed on exactly the same job, and proceeded to Boulogne as before, bringing back one prisoner guarded by my escort of two men, who we likewise handed over to the Quarter Guard for detention. After spending another two or three days with the nucleus at Flêtre camp, doing camp duties and route marches, etc. the men of the 20th Btn. now numbering about fifty were ordered to rejoin the Battalion which was then resting after three weeks of hot work in the firing line, near Dickebush in a mixed camp of huts and tents.

Accordingly, on October 2nd, the nucleus, details and men in detention marched out in column of route, I being in charge of the Quarter guard in charge of the prisoners. After three hours march, we arrived at Abeele, where we found the battalion out resting and there I handed the men under detention over to the R.S.W. and sought my company lines.

I had scarcely had time to clean myself up after the march when our adjutant, Capt. Portman ordered me to proceed to the C.O.’s tent, there to undergo an examination as a candidate for a Commission. Within half an hour I was standing to attention before Col. Ralston, who asked me numerous questions about my occupation in civil life, antecedents, education and so on, to all of which I gave answer as truthfully and exactly as possible. The interview then ended and I was informed that I was to hold myself in readiness to appear before the Brigadier General in the near future. My sudden elevation to candidature for a commission was too much for other sergeants in the battalion who mostly became foolishly jealous as most of them had held their stripes longer than I and therefore considered that they had more right to be considered than I. Everywhere I went about the camp I was treated with reserve and coldness which made me feel very miserable as I had always been on the best of terms with everyone and I could not see why they should treat me so, simply because I was likely to get a promotion. Personally, if any of my mates had been given a commission, I think I should have wished them good luck rather than entertain a feeling of jealousy.

That same afternoon, I was ordered to proceed with five other sergeants to Brigade headquarters to interview the Brigadier General. Arrived at a farm house three kilometres distant, we waited our turn amongst the sergeants from the other battalions until at last it came my turn to step into the orderly room. Inside, Brigadier General Smith was seated at a table, whilst his Brigade Major was standing at his elbow.

Having saluted, I stood to attention before the General, who proceeded to ask me numerous questions about my private history and military experience, etc. At the end of the interview, I was dismissed and returned to my own battalion lines at Abeele and went about my ordinary duties about the camp. For three days more we stayed at Abeele camp, during which I visited the 8th Field Ambulance and looked up an old friend from Glen Innes named Ted Grover.