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<p>a4701778.html</p><p>2/ only lasted a day & the elements were kind to we "gravel-crushers". Our route took us across the [frontier?] which there is a long Ridge, from the summit of which we had a grand view of "poor-little-Belgium" on our left hand & "La Belle" France, from which we've just come, on the other. Many places well known to us in 1916 could be clearly discerned away in the distance on the lower country, including P___e & battered historic Y - s. Camps could be seen everywhere below, having taken the once bountiful fields for their sites. The border crossing is still guarded by "Tommy" police & Belgians - a very necessary precaution - a long pole across the road acting as the barrier. Our march took us very close to where Bert is camped with his Unit, & where I was recently, @ "School", but there was no opportunity of calling there, nor even when we camped for the night, a little further on, owing to the many things to be done with the mach-gun, etc., prior to our next day's departure to the Front line.</p><p>We were 4tunate in getting a welcome "lift" on the narrow gauge Railway, which saved a great deal of boot leather, sweat, & bad language. The little train, with it's open-trucks, managed the heavy load "OK" & we were sorry when we were emptied out to continue the rest of the journey to the outposts in "No Man's Land", per "shanks". The "choo-choo" brought us to the fringe of what is now a land of heartbreaking utter desolation, & where such big things in the way of "Shoves" & "Pushes" were accomplished last June by our Armies (the "Aussies" of course having "guernseys", were also picked & played). We passed over the Railway line (by guage) & canal which have previously figured so prominently in this War's history (while the Hun savages were trying to battle their way with shot, shell, gas & liquid-fire to Calais via 2/- by their "All Highist's" orders) Goodness!</p>