Battle of Arras (cont.); 3rd Battle of the Scarpe; training

After supplying working parties for the Royal Engineers while billeted in Arras, the battalion is involved in action on the Green Line north of Fampoux near Arras.

Later in the month, they spend time in combat and skills training.

On the night of the 5th/6th May, Donald is mentioned in a letter from Reggie to their sister, Helen. It relates the story of Donald narrowly avoiding a bomb through his bed. The letter also says “Donald goes up tonight, just on our left, to a badly straffed place like this salubrious village.” Since the 4th SAI had been furnishing working parties up until the 4th May and it was only on the 5th May that they were ordered to stop doing so and prepare to go into line, it is very likely that the two brothers met on the 5th. At the time, the 8th KORL were in trenches to the west of Monchy-le-Preux on Brown Line and were employed building communication trenches having spent 2 days (2nd & 3rd May) resting in trenches at Bois des Boeufs and been moved up on the 4th May.

- 1st to 4th May
  Working parties for the 401st Royal Engineers
- 5th May
  Orders to stop working for the RE
  Moved via Blangy bridge to Tray, Trash and Tree trenches north of St. Laurent Blangy
- 6th May
  Moved up to Green Line north of Fampoux
  Intermittent shelling of trenches all day
- 7th May
  Intermittent shelling
  Battalion holding the 26th Brigade’s front line
- 8th May
  Practice barrage on enemy trenches opposite
  Retaliatory barrage from the enemy
- 9th May
  Intermittent shelling
  Another practice barrage but this time with little retaliation
  Allied aeroplane came down near Cadiz
- 10th May
  Intermittent shelling
  Shelling enemy opposite Gavrelle
  Enemy retaliated
  Barrage exchanges all evening
  Relief postponed
- 11th May
  Relieved by 9th Duke of Wellington (West Riding)
  Returned to Arras
  Billeted at the “Y” Huts (Etrun)
- 12th May
  Marches to billets in Monchy Breton
- 13th May
  Brigade inspected by 3rd Army Commander (Edmund Allenby)
- 14th to 28th May
  Training
  Baths
  Digging competition
  Snapshooting at disappearing target
  Sports day on 23rd May
  Brigade sports on 27th May
  Shooting competition
- 29th May
  Return to Arras
- 30th May
  Brigade ceremonial parade
  Decorations presented by Corps Commander
  - Military Cross
    - Capt. R.E. Morrison
  - Military Medal
    - L/Sgt M. McKendrick
    - Pte. E.J Bruscow
    - Corpl. J. Walker
    - L/Cpl. McGuire
    - L/Cpl. MacLaghlan
- 31st May
  - Bayonet practice
  - Rapid loading practice
  - Map reading