Lest it should be thought we had an easy time (despite the many hours spent playing bridge) some explanation is necessary. Although we were not regularly firing on German positions, north of the Reno, they were unsporting enough to frequently send a lot of stuff our way. While no serious damage was done, only too often the phone lines were cut.

Repairing lines, although time consuming, was not particularly hazardous, except when it came to restoring service to the Field Observation Officer and/or to 5 Troop, as the general area was subject to regular mortar fire. Twice, during the more than a dozen occasions while effecting repairs, mortar bombs fell disturbingly close.

Finding breaks in a line was usually not too difficult except when it was not immediately visible, for example, if it was laid in a ditch. The procedure in such instances was to narrow the search by periodically tapping the line to ascertain in which direction it was open.

On one occasion, finding the break proved to be most difficult. By way of explanation, the Signal's people, when they laid the line to the east, to cross the road where it turned north it was strung between two conveniently placed trees. On reaching the track, marked A on the sketch, poles were used to elevate the line over it.

Early one morning, Trooper Sharples and myself set off to repair the line going east taking with us mail for 5 Troop, which the echelon had delivered during the night. We were in for an exasperating few hours - fortunately without being stonked in the process. We reached the FOO's house without finding the break but, on checking the instrument although there was contact with 5 Troop there was none to the "exchange."

Following the line eastward two breaks were found and repaired, however, when checking Freddie Verso's phone only the FOO could be reached. We retraced our steps, periodically tapping the line on the way, until reaching where it was carried over the track, where, after lowering the two poles, the problem was solved. A piece of shrapnel had severed the wire but had left enough of the insulation intact for the break not to be visible from below.

During the several occasions I visited the house in which the Royal Canadian Artillery observation post was located, I got to know the FOO quite well although, regretfully, I cannot recall his name. A Canadian citizen, he was born in Hoylake (about nine miles from my home town) site of the Royal Liverpool Golf Club, upon which many an Open has been played until it was deemed to be an unsuitable venue due to the lack of adequate parking facilities. The links will always be dear to me as it was there that I recorded a personal best, the greatest number of strokes below par for eighteen holes played anywhere. But I digress, on a later visit the FOO had an amusing tale to tell.