THE YPRES TIMES
H7
made it a very unhealthy spot. The area we held while in reserve included
Reninghelst. We found this village in a very dilapidated state when we arrived, but
considerably less of it was standing by the time we left. Every few days we moved
from one area to the other. During the weeks spent in this district we never saw
a civilian, never could we escape the unseen eyes on Kemmel Hill which loomed
above us.
July 18th, 1918, was, it had been learned from a captured prisoner, to be the date
of a big attack by the enemy with the object of reaching the Coast. It was obvious
that he had massed an immense quantity of artillery, and intelligence reports indicated
a concentration of troops in front of us. As the day dawned our guns put down heavy
barrages. Later we were convinced that there would be no attack that morning.
OFFICERS OF THE iith BATTALION THE QUEEN'S, MARCH, 1916.
Subsequently, we learned that the French had advanced farther south a few days
previously and that the extra German troops on our front had been hurriedly diverted
to deal with the new situation which had arisen.
The same night Captain Furness took up most of his company from Reninghelst
and made a very successful raid near Butterfly Farm, obtaining prisoners and valuable
information. He and two of his officers, Lieutenants Moon and Trotter, were wounded
before they returned to our lines.
