We lost Padre Hoskyns at this period. He had received an order which
filled him with chagrin to report for duty as Senior Chaplin to the 6th
division, so he journeyed at once to the divisional H.Q. and told the
major-general he would sit on his doorstep until he got permission from
him to stay with the battalion. Efforts were made but they were of no
avail, and a more peremptory order than the last was received, so he
took a sorrowful farewell and departed, followed by the regrets of the
whole battalion, and indeed of a good number of the division. "Some have
greatness thrust upon them," was applicable in his case, for he had not
sought promotion but preferred to remain a "parish priest" and live
amongst the men. Much the same remark applied to the C.O. who, in the
absence of General Henley at Divisional Headquarters, was called upon
to take command of the brigade during the succeeding weeks, for he
always expressed his preference for battalion work. Owing to the fact
that Major Rae was in hospital at this time with the "flue," Capt.
Creagh assumed command of the battalion, and Lt. Barratt being on a
month's leave in England, Lt. Wilson was temporarily appointed Adjutant.
Capt. Palmer, an old officer of the 7th, who had been carrying out
important work in England since his recovery from a wound obtained in
Gallipoli on June 4th, returned to us some weeks previous to this and
was put in command of "C" company.
During our period in reserve the 126th brigade had continued our
worrying tactics and had attempted to raid La Signy Farm.
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