where intensive mine and trench warfare had been conducted for two years. The divisional artillery was arranged in two groups, one in Ypres, the other in the Railway Dugouts. These battery positions were under enemy observation and were frequently shelled during the winter. On 16 January 1917 a German attack was anticipated, and the divisional artillery, together with that of 23rd and 41st Divisions and the Corps and Army heavy guns, carried out an intense bombardment, which brought considerable enemy retaliation. As well as organised bombardments of the enemy lines, the guns frequently responded to SOS calls from the front during enemy raids, and laid on wire-cutting and box barrages for British trench raids. A further reorganisation of the BEF's field artillery was carried out during the winter of 1916–17. On 27 November B Bty was split up between 34th and C Btys to bring both up to six guns; C Bty became the new B Bty. At the same time C and half of B Bty from CCXXXVII (VII London) Bde replaced C Bty. However, CCXXXVIII Brigade's headquarters was abolished on 21 January 1917, and the brigade ceased to exist for the rest of the war. The batteries were dispersed: 34th to CLXXXIX (Hackney) Army Field Bde, B to CIV Army Field Bde, C to CCXXXVI (VI London) Bde and D (H) to CCXXXV (V London) Bde. 2/VIII London Brigade The 2/2nd London Division came into existence quickly as volunteers rushed to join up. There were no guns or horses for the artillery, but the batteries improvised dummy guns mounted on handcarts, with wooden sights and washing-lines for drag-ropes. Although the Master-General of the Ordnance, Major-General Sir Stanley von Donop, was pleased with their work and promised them the first guns available, it was not until May 1915 that some old 5-inch howitzers arrived for training. In 1915 the division took the place of 1/2nd London Division in the St Albans area, 2/VIII Bde arriving in April. At the end of May, now numbered 60th (2/2nd London) Division, the division moved into Essex, with the artillery at Much Hadham. Finally, at the end of 1915 it began to receive new 4.5-inch howitzers and towards the end of January 1916 the division moved to the Warminster training area on Salisbury Plain. On 28 April the brigade was brought up to three batteries by the arrival of 4/LX (H) Bty, a