Friday, 26 February 2016

Sunday 27th February 1916

Between Neuf Berquin and Estaires

The purpose of the recent emergency move had not become clear and even the official Divisional History later reported that, “a certain amount of marching and counter-marching took place; the reasons for this have not been discovered, but the nature of the movements ordered seem to indicate an uncertainty as to the enemy’s intentions”.  Whatever the emergency, it turned out to be short-lived; “we messed about several days, but evidently weren’t needed, so returned wearily to our ‘rest’ camp – in six inches of snow”.  Lt. Dick Bolton (see 11th January), writing years later, recalled that, “the Division was ordered forward again and marched via the Foret de Nieppe to the Estaires area. Naturally the air was full of rumours which were very far from the truth; it was later learnt that an attack had been planned with a view to relieving the pressure on the French at Verdun. Nothing came of this and once more the Battalion returned to Steenbecque”. A six-hour march, starting at 9.30am saw the Battalion back at Steenbecque at 3.30pm. Orders were issued for the Battalion to resume their training programme.

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