CHAPTER I

THE OPENING MONTHS OF 1915

Conflict of the 1st Brigade at Cuinchy, and of the 3rd Brigade at Givenchy--Heavy losses of the Guards--Michael O'Leary, V.C.--Relief of French Divisions by the Twenty-seventh and Twenty-eighth British--Pressure on the Fifth Corps--Force subdivided into two armies--Disaster to 16th Lancers--The dearth of munitions