We had now finished our instruction in trench warfare and were going to take over part of the front line.

(p.

042) We were marched off one afternoon to the village of Bac St.Maur, where we rested for the night.

I had dinner with the officers of the 15th Battalion, and went out afterwards to a big factory at the end of the straggling brick village to see my son, whose battalion was quartered there.

On returning I found the night was very dark, and every door and window in the long rows of houses was tightly closed.
No lights were allowed in the town.