Leave also continued to flow,
and proved an important factor in keeping up the morale of the troops.
How different from the old days, when we used to advertise our
intentions to the Hun when a stunt was impending by stopping leave in
the army concerned! Capt. Grey Burn, M.C., went to England for a month
on August 31st, and Lt. S. J. Wilson was put in command of "B" company
for the coming operations, while in the continued absence of Capt.
Palmer, Lt. Hammond was in charge of "C" company. Lt. Smithies, recently
joined from the second line, took over the duties of intelligence
officer. Col. Manger was required to temporarily command the 126th
brigade, and this left Major Rae in command of the battalion once more.
The next village in our line of advance, now practically due east, was
Villers-au-Flos, and this, with the high ground beyond it, was to be
taken in the first stride of the coming battle, a matter of 2,500 yards.
After this the L.F's. would leap-frog through and exploit success as far
as possible. This time the 5th and 6th were detailed to execute the
first shock of the assault with the 7th in close support. As a matter of
fact "C" company were sent forward to act under the orders of the 5th in
view of the extra opposition which was expected on the right sector. On
the night of September 1st the remainder of the battalion, in order "B,"
"A," "D," companies moved up close to Riencourt, to occupy old, shallow
trenches, and await the needs of the brigade either during or after the
assault.
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