The inhabitants of
Bethune, where most of the brigade were in billets at this time, will
not easily forget the efforts of the 127th brigade to make the most of
its 'Xmas rest. The Boche made unpleasant contributions to the
proceedings by way of long range shelling by day and bombing by night,
but although the 8th and the civilians suffered somewhat by these
displays, the 7th escaped practically unhurt.
In the opening days of the New Year we returned to the line in the
Brickstacks sector south of the canal, and the heavy snow and frost
having been succeeded by a sudden thaw accompanied by rain, the
condition of the trenches in the low ground can be better imagined than
described. Leather jerkins were quickly supplemented by "boots, gum,
thigh," and the British soldier came to assume the appearance of a
Yarmouth fisherman. Runners, etc., arriving at company H.Q., would first
demand from the harbour master permission to navigate their course
through the troubled waters, while facetious notices indicated times
when pleasure boats could be taken out. This amphibious warfare was
extremely unpleasant, and it further delayed the work on the new
defensive positions. Captain Jimmy Baker and Lt. Jack Morten, whilst on
a midnight prowl in No Man's Land almost met with disaster, and the
performance came to an undignified close after they had extricated one
another from deep muddy water to make their way back to dock minus gum
boots. We knew that the Huns must be in a similar predicament, for their
ground was equally low, and we could only laugh when on one occasion
dawn revealed one or two of them jumping about in the open in attempts
to dry their clothes and to restore life to their numbed bodies.
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