"The Weather Was Bitterly Cold And It Snowed Heavily"

On 12th April, another Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment arrived in the Arras sector.
The 4th (T.F.) Battalion had moved up in the weeks before for Morlancourt in the southern region of the Somme, to the Arras sector. They had prior to the commencement of the battle on 9th April, been behind the lines practicing fire and movement tactics for assaulting gun emplacents.
The Divisional Commander visited them just before they were leaving the Somme and was most impressed by the appearance of the Battalion. That day too, the weather was considered now warm enough for the Battalion to return its leather jerkins to stores. 
In the first week of April, the Battalion moved towards Arras by a series of route marches. From La Neuville, to Molliens, to Naours, onto Longuevillette, past Beaureoaoaire Farm, to Couin, onwards to Berles-au-Bois, they arrived on the evening of 11th April in the front line near Ficheux, directly south of Arras.
The War Diary noted that "The weather was bitterly cold and it snowed heavily" the men who had less than a week before, handed their precious leather jerkins into store, had to wait for some hours in this inclement weather until their greatcoats arrived on the wagons and could be put on to keep out the cold.
The Battalion was the Madelain Redoubt for the nigh, but the following day, they received urgent orders to relieve the 18th Battalion, Manchester Regiment who had had a touch few hours in the front lineally to the north east on Neuville-Vitesse - Henin-sur-Coueul road. Leaving at 1.05pm, they had completed the relief by 5.40pm.
The journey had not been without casualties. one man was killed and two were wounded when a "chance shell fell amongst "C" Coy on the way up"

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