As far as I could learn, Mont St.Eloi had been the site of an old monastery which had been destroyed in the French Revolution, the towers and the walls of the church alone surviving.
The farms of the monastery had passed to secular ownership, but were rich and well cultivated.

A spiral stone staircase led up to an observation post at the top of one of the towers.

The place was visible from the German lines, and till we had taken Vimy Ridge no one was allowed to climb the tower unless on duty.
Our trenches now were extremely quiet, and were a pleasant contrast to those we had left on the Somme.

The whole Corps had only a few casualties each day.

The spirits of the men, who had been under a heavy strain, were now completely restored.