After our
allotted period at Le Preol it was the brigade's turn for divisional
reserve, and this was accompanied by another move back to Hingette, near
Locon. One of our functions in this position was to back up the
Portuguese if they should be attacked, for they lay on the left of the
42nd. This entailed a careful reconnaissance of all the ground behind
their positions, and the siting and construction of defended localities
in that area. So the battalion found itself digging and wiring once more
in new soil.
The 55th division, having recovered from the severe handling they had
received in the enemy reply to "Cambrai," eventually took over the line,
and on February 12th the 7th marched back to Burbure, near Lillers. The
end of the 42nd's tour of duty in this sector had been marked the
previous night by a highly successful raid by the 9th Manchesters which
had taken the Boche completely by surprise, and had furnished quite a
number of prisoners and machine guns. The warning rumblings of the
German offensive storm now steadily increased to a marked degree. His
guns were growing in number, range and activity, and what had once been
peaceful back areas were steadily becoming more uncomfortable. This was
displayed all along the front, so that it was impossible to deduce from
that fact alone where his blow would fall. There was a good deal of
suspicion, however, about the Portuguese front, and the duties of the
42nd, as 1st Army reserve, were clear if the attack took place there.
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