After supplying working parties for the Royal Engineers while billeted in Arras, the battalion is involved in holding the line 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 on Brown Line probably near La Chapelle de Feuchy and were employed building communication trenches west of Monchy Le Preux having been moved up on the 4th May.
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