Neuville Vitasse, followed by eight days in reserve in camp near
Mercatel. The weather was good on the whole, and the trenches in
excellent condition. The enemy was only moderately active and there were
very few casualties. One of the Battalion areas in this sector was the
bank from which the attack started on the 14th April, and whilst there a
cross was erected to the memory of those who fell on that day.

As a result of their long stay here, the men became very familiar with
the whole area, and their experiences in the communication trenches,
Foster Avenue, Shikar Lane, Kestrel Avenue, Avenue Trench and others were
talked of for long after. Neither did they forget Lone Sap, from which
the enemy captured two of their comrades, Cable Trench, which was raided
by a party under 2nd Lieut. B.R. Leatherbarrow, Concrete Trench, the
Hindenburg Line, the caves in Marliere Village, which on one occasion
produced some interesting souvenirs left by the Boches, and many other
localities.

Apart from minor raids and counter-raids, the only outstanding incident
was the double raid of the 15th September. This operation was carried out
by the 9th Durham Light Infantry in the afternoon and repeated by the 8th
Durham Light Infantry in the evening. The Battalion was holding the
sector immediately on the right of the raiders, and its function was to
draw the enemy's attention and fire by the exhibition of dummy figures
and a dummy tank, which were later on view at the United Services Museum
in Whitehall. 2nd Lieut. Leatherbarrow was in charge of these dummies,
assisted by Sergeant P. Finn, who was awarded the Military Medal for his
work.

Other decorations earned during this period were Military Medals awarded
to Corporal Nesbitt and Private Allison of X Company for digging out a