CHAPTER IV

THE SALIENT AND “PLUG STREET”

OCTOBER 1915 TO MAY 1916

Concentration of Division near Bethune—Major-General W. T. Furse and _Esprit de Corps_—New Commanders—Move to the Salient—Mud—The Reign of the Second Lieutenant—The Ninth Division School—The Trenches—Sappers and Infantry—Artillery Retaliation Tariff—Mining— A.S.C. and Transport—Formation of Machine-Gun Companies—Gas Attack, 19th Dec.—Rest and Training—Ploegsteert Wood—11th Royal Scots Raided—The G.O.C. and the Offensive Spirit—Sniping and Machine-Guns—Changes in Command—Artillery and Trench Mortars— Break-up of the 28th Brigade—Arrival of the South African Brigade—Relief of the Division 61