Early in October 1915 a half company of the 3rd Middlesex Regiment
occupied a front-line sector at Givenchy, known as the "Duck's Bill,"
which ran into the German line.
In spite of our proximity to the enemy our chief annoyance was
occasional sniping, machine gunning, rifle grenades, and liquid fire,
for the area had been given over mainly to mining and counter-mining.
It was expected that the "Duck's Bill" would "go up" at any moment, so
it was decided to leave only one officer in charge, with instructions
to keep every available man engaged either in furiously tunnelling
towards the enemy to counter their efforts, or in repairing our
breast-works, which had been seriously damaged in a German attack.
My men worked like Trojans on a most tiring, muddy, and gruesome task.
At last we were relieved by the Leicestershire Regiment, and one of
my men, on being asked by his Leicester relief what the place was
like, replied: "Well, 'ow d'yer spend yer 'olidies, in the country
or at the seaside? 'Cos yer gits both 'ere as yer pleases: rabbit
'unting (pointing to the tunnelling process) and sand castle building
(indicating the breastwork repairs), wiv fireworks in the evening."
The Leicesters, alas! "went up" that evening.--_S. H. Flood (late
Middlesex Regiment and M.G.C.), "Prestonville," Maidstone Road,
Chatham, Kent._