Another four days in the trenches caused further casualties, and Lieutenant H. B. Vernon was wounded. On the 11th the 1st Battalion retired to Bronfay Farm, where it remained resting for a week, after which it returned to the front line. The Germans were now retiring along the whole front, and a close and unremitting pursuit had to be maintained. The 1st Battalion was employed on outpost duty with orders to accelerate the retirement as much as possible. This necessitated constant advances, but each line, as it was reached, had to be consolidated in case of counter-attack. After four days of this the Battalion retired to Maurepas, and subsequently to Camp 15 at Billon. Second Lieutenant R. B. St. Q. Wall joined on the 8th of March, Lieutenant P. G. Simmons on the 14th, Lieutenant R. H. Rolfe and Second Lieutenant R. F. W. Echlin on the 30th.
The officers of the 2nd Battalion on January 1, 1917, were:
Lieut.-Colonel C. R. Champion de Crespigny, D.S.O. Commanding Officer. Major Hon. W. R. Bailey, D.S.O. Second in Command. Lieut. A. H. Penn Adjutant. Lieut. G. G. M. Vereker Transport Officer. Hon. Lieut. and Quartermaster W. E. Acraman, D.C.M. Quartermaster. Lieut. J. N. Buchanan No. 1 Company. Lieut. F. A. M. Browning ” ” Lieut. E. W. Seymour ” ” Lieut. A. McW. Lawson-Johnston, M.C. ” ” Lieut. J. C. Cornforth ” ” Captain E. O. Stewart No. 2 Company. Lieut. Hon. F. H. Manners ” ” Lieut. F. H. G. Layland-Barratt, M.C. ” ” Lieut. T. A. Combe ” ” Captain C. F. A. Walker, M.C. No. 3 Company. Lieut. K. O’G. Harvard No. 3 Company. 2nd Lieut. Lord I. B. G. T. Blackwood ” ” 2nd Lieut. H. M. Wilson ” ” Capt. Lord F. T. H. T. Blackwood, D.S.O. No. 4 Company. Lieut. R. Terrell ” ” Lieut. R. A. W. Bicknell ” ” Lieut. A. T. A. Ritchie ” ” Lieut. J. Tabor ” ” Capt. J. A. Andrews, R.A.M.C. Medical Officer.
From January 2 to 25 the 2nd Battalion remained at Méaulte, training by companies, providing fatigue parties, and receiving instruction in bombing, Lewis gunnery, and precautions against gas attacks. Each company went through a course of musketry, and constantly had route marches. On the 25th orders were received to move to Priez Farm in motor buses and lorries, but owing to some unexplained mistake only seven buses and nine lorries arrived, so that a large part of the Battalion had to march. Priez Farm, which is between Combles and Rancourt, consisted of dug-outs which were constantly subjected to the enemy’s shells. The men were employed in filling sand-bags, but owing to a sharp frost the ground was hard as iron, and it was by no means easy to obtain the requisite soil. One shell pitched among the cookers, killing 2 men and wounding 4, while another fell on the water-cart, wounding 2 men. On the 29th the Battalion was relieved by the 3rd Battalion Coldstream and marched to Billon Camp near Maricourt. The weather was bitterly cold, and the men suffered a good deal in spite of the warm clothing provided for them.