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Chapter XV.
With The French at Mont Des Cats..

On the 17th May Captain McHugh, M.C. (who was placed in charge of the cable laying) accompanied by Captains Richards and Comer, proceeded by motor to Eecke via Winnizeele to survey the routes and points which were to be connected by cable. Next day, the 18th, Nos. 1 and 2 Companies left Ruminghem for Winnizeele where they went into camp. The weather was perfect, and it was decided to start in the early morning, 4 a.m., allot each man a task 7ft. x 7ft. x 1½ft. and when that job was completed the rest of the day was given up to recreational training. Work was started next morning, 19th, and the going was good. The men proceeded to work on their cycles some six miles from the camp. The party told off for laying the cable preceded them by lorry. The work was generally completed by 9 a.m. and the men returned to camp by 10 a.m. Under these conditions, which the men thoroughly enjoyed, the work progressed rapidly on a daily average of 400 yards completed cable line. The companies were changed every six days, having two companies on work at cable and one at Battalion Headquarters, Ruminghem, for training purposes. The training consisted of the usual Company training and musketry practices on rifle ranges at Moule.

Our work on cable was in the area taken over by the French, and our men received a great ovation from them, besides learning the ways and methods of our staunch allies. This work was continued until the 4th June, when our Corps was ordered to proceed south to near Amiens and to be there in reserve should the enemy attempt to continue his advance on the coast. On the morning of the 5th June Battalion Headquarters and No. 2 Company moved out and made a small forest page 66near Wizernes that night, where bivouacs were prepared. Nos. 1 and 3 Companies left Winnizeele the same morning and joined the Battalion there that evening. A move on was made next morning with destination Caupelle-Vielle near Fruges, a distance of roughly 25 miles being covered, and good time was made despite heat and dust. Billets awaited us, arranged by our advance party, and we soon settled down. Next morning we moved on again via Fruges, Rousseau-Ville, Auchy Le Hesdin, Hesdin, and over some steep hills to Wavans, our halting place. It was a long day—33 miles being covered.

Continuing next day we travelled over more hills to Bourdon through Flexicourt (4th Army Headquarters) and made our camp on the low-lying fields adjoining the Somme River. Next day we moved on to Oissy, our final destination.

This treck from Ruminghem had taken us three full days and two half days, and the distance covered was about 90 miles.

This is not quick travelling for cyclists, who could do 40 miles a day easily, but we were hampered then by having slow horse transport, and the length of our day's journey had to be paced accordingly.

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