On the 5th there was heavy shell-fire as usual, and some trenches were blown in. The 20th Brigade was relieved on that day by the 7th Brigade, and marched through Ypres, which was being shelled as far as Locre. The men found the march very fatiguing, for they had had little sleep for many days, and had been digging or fighting all the previous night. Owing to the incessant shell-fire, it had been found impossible to organise the Battalion into any recognised formation during the period from October 29 to November 5. If fifty men were wanted for the trenches, some one had to go round the dug-outs and collect them. There was no company, platoon, or even sectional organisation. In spite of this everything went well, a result due to the splendid spirit shown by the men themselves.
At daybreak the Brigade reached Locre, weary with the long march, but very glad to get away from the constant roar of shells and rifle-fire. As every available house and shed was already occupied by the French, the church was opened and the Grenadiers and part of the Scots Guards billeted there. The march was resumed in the afternoon through Bailleul to Meteren, where the Brigade went into billets.
The Grenadiers were now reorganised into a single Company as follows:
Officer Commanding and Adjutant, Captain RASCH. Quartermaster, Lieut. J. TEECE. The King's Company, Lieut. Lord CLAUD HAMILTON.
No. 1 Platoon, Lieut. MITCHELL. No. 2 Platoon, 2nd Lieut. M. A. A. DARBY. No. 3 Platoon, Lieut. W. R. MACKENZIE, (Transport Officer). No. 4 Platoon, Sergeant C. JONES.
Company Sergeant-Major, Drill-Sergeant J. L. CAPPER. Company Q.-M. Sergeant, Colour-Sergeant T. W. BROWN.
On November 7 the Battalion did an hour's steady drill. There was something very fine and at the same time pathetic in the remnants of this decimated Battalion going through their drill with the determination to maintain the high standard of discipline no matter how small their numbers might be. Next day the whole Brigade attended divine service for the first time since they had left England, and as there was no chaplain, the Brigadier, Major Cator, read the service. In the afternoon the Brigade was drawn up in square facing inwards, and General Capper addressed it. He expressed his admiration of the way in which it had fought round Ypres, and told the men that they had upheld the splendid traditions of their regiments.