About 6.30 p.m. the French on left of the Staffords retired and about 500 Germans crossed the ZONNEBEKE - BECELARE road, within 600 yards of our Battalion HQ. Most of the enemy withdrew East of road, but about 150 remained in old trenches just West of road. Thus Staffords left was dangerously exposed and so at 12 p.m. on 12/13 it was decided to retire to line of road. The Battalion was allotted line from 5th kilometre stone to 60th Rifles on right, and one Company (D) was left out in redoubt in wood East of road. C Company in reserve. The withdrawal was carried out without a hitch at 3a.m. on 13th.
Friday 13th November 1914
Belgium, Westhoek
An incessant shower of rain and shell all day. D Company were driven out of forward position about 1p.m. and withdrew back into reserve with few casualties. Enemy reported to be massing in front of right (B) Company were heavily shelled by our guns. Enemy dug new line of trenches about 100 yards to our front, but otherwise showed little activity. They did not discover we had vacated forward position till between 8a.m. and 9 a.m.
Saturday 14th November 1914
Belgium, Westhoek
Trenches heavily shelled. Cold wet day. 2/Lt Grigson Ellis arrived with 5th reinforcement of 250 men.
Sunday 15th November 1914
Belgium, Westhoek
Again much cold, rain and shellfire. At 9 p.m. we were relieved by the 169th Regiment of the French 9th Division, and marched to Hooge in Divisional Reserve. The whole 6th Brigade was relieved. Relief carried out without any unusual occurrence.
Monday 16th November 1914
Belgium, Hooge
3 Companies remained in dugouts in wood, one Company in farm, all day. Very wet. Left at 9 p.m. and marched into billets at YPRES. The town was being continuously shelled.
They shall not grow old,
as we that are left grow old.
Age shall not weary them,
nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun,
and in morning
We will remember them.
