Further training near Arras.
Donald goes on leave on the 7th.
While he is away the regiment spends time in the front line north of St. Laurent Blangy. It is wet, cold and miserable. The enemy’s artillery are continually blowing holes in the walls of the trenches and work parties are in constant action repairing them. The men’s feet are also suffering due to the persistent bad state of the trenches.
There are 3 “J” subsectors. So the four SAI regiments take turns in each subsector and then have a period in reserve in billets in Arras.
Donald returns at some point in December in time to sign the battalion’s war diaries for December 1916.
button in the top right of the map display to select which years to display.