Winners at a Horse Show, Belgium, 1917.

Both the 1st and the 2nd Battalion The Royal Irish Rifles were relieved from their positions in the Ypres Salient on 5 June 1917.

They moved by rail to Road Camp near Poperinghe. Here, training began, along with with work on the new defensive ‘Blue Line’. As the defences were now excellent, only one brigade was required to work. After a week of work, 13-19 June, 107 Brigade began training in earnest; most afternoons were devoted to games, cross-country running, football and even cricket whenever a tolerable pitch could be found. In the evenings there was a cinema, a concert party and boxing. International football matches were arranged with neighbouring Belgian troops.

The end of the period was marked by the 36th (Ulster) Division Horse Show, a very splendid function at which 1 RIR excelled by winning more prizes than any of the other eight infantry battalions serving in the Division.