marched to Becourt Camp, the air being full of rumours as to the future.

It soon became known, however, that the Division was moving south to take
over a section of the line hitherto held by the French, still in the
Somme area, just south of Peronne. From Becourt the Battalion continued
its march to Ribemont. The march was uneventful except for the fact that
the two rear Companies took a wrong turning, and after a roundabout
journey arrived late at the halting place for dinner. At Ribemont it
stayed for about three weeks, during which training was carried out, the
men being accommodated in barns. Col. Allen was still in command with
Lieut. T.J. Arnott (Gordon Highlanders) as Adjutant. There was little of
interest during this period and, on the whole, everybody was pleased when
the move was resumed to huts at Hamel. After a few days there the
Battalion marched to billets at Proyart, where Lieut.-Col. J.W. Jeffreys,
D.S.O., returned and took over command. Again, in three or four days it
marched to Foucaucourt, where it was in Divisional Reserve. This village,
which had at one time been in the front line system, was practically
nothing but ruins and the Battalion was accommodated in a large camp of
French huts, fitted with wire beds, each hut holding about 150 men. Here,
final preparations were made for the line, which was visited by officers
who reported that the trenches were dry and in good condition. It was
very frosty weather at this time, but unfortunately before the Battalion
moved up a thaw had set in. The relief of the 5th Yorkshire Regiment will
never be forgotten by those of the Battalion who took part in it.
Following on the methods adopted by the French the relief took place
through very long communication trenches, running from Estrées through
Berny to the line in front of Misery. These trenches, as a result of the
thaw, were everywhere knee deep in mud and usually waist deep, and men
arrived in the line without boots and in a few cases without trousers,
having lost them in the mud. The experiences of X Company were perhaps