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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