of the town at once organized gangs of the more able-bodied members of the population. Soon, willing hands were hard at work filling up the craters left in all the principal roads by mines fired by the enemy as he retreated. Not all of these had exploded, however. Delay-action mines were numerous, but few of these had escaped the notice of eyes eager to serve their country and her Allies. Mine after mine was pointed out and labelled, and it was in no small degree due to this gratuitous help that casualties from mines were to a great extent avoided.
During the day the advance was continued to Cartignies, which was entered by the 5th Sherwoods and troops of the 137th Brigade, in spite of some opposition from enemy machine gunners. The weather had been bad, rain pouring down steadily all day, but nothing served to damp the enthusiasm, either of the troops, or of the inhabitants who turned out in great numbers to greet them.
Here was seen the extraordinary sight of a battalion marching in fours into a town the outskirts of which were still held by enemy machine gunners, a continuous stream of bullets from across the River Petite Helpe striking the houses. A billeting party, undeterred by this too warm reception, continued its work and the battalion, tired after its day's match, settled down in billets in the outpost line. Many were the amusing contretemps due to this proximity to an irritated enemy, who had had to leave his comfortable quarters for wet and windy bivouacs on the safe side of the river. Two officers of the Sherwoods, having round a complete German officer's kit abandoned by its owner, inadvertently settled down on the exposed side of a house to examine the booty. Wrapped in their congenial task, they failed to notice the attention they were receiving, until a spatter of machine-gun bullets
