All this had to be done in pouring rain. When
at last we settled down it was found that our new homes were also shared
by huge rats who capered about in a most homely manner.
Dompierre was our abode for a few days whilst the battalion made daily
excursions through the mud in the direction of Villers Carbonel to
execute road making fatigues. Major Scott concluded his long period of
active service with the battalion about this time, being invalided to
England. His place at the Q.M. Stores was later filled by Lt. Rose of
the R.W.F's. After this period we moved into Peronne, and were installed
in more comfortable dwellings, for although the town had been badly
knocked about, it was possible to find more or less good cover for
troops. The great boon here was the plentiful supply of timber from the
destroyed houses, and every group of men had its roaring fire. The
battalion and indeed the brigade was still on fatigue, repairing roads,
railways, bridges, etc. Meanwhile the division had made its debut in
France, the 125th and 126th brigades having taken over part of the line
during the pursuit of the Hun.
The 7th suffered their first casualty in the new theatre of war at
Peronne in a rather unfortunate manner. Whilst on a fatigue of salving
telephone wire on the battle-swept ground of Biaches, just outside the
town, Pte. Gibson of "C" company was accidentally killed by a bomb,
whose explosive mechanism he had unwittingly set in action when pulling
up the wire.
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