The 2nd Battalion The Royal Irish Rifles, ready to march forward from Bouzincourt, was almost back at the Somme on 27 June 1916.

The Battalion had, by the end of May 1916, completed a month in the area of the Front near Vimy Ridge and, owing to the strain of the mine warfare, raids and shelling, was well in need of a rest. For the first fortnight in June while in the rear area, the Battalion engaged in brigade and unit training: running, bayonet fighting, and especially tactical exercises against trenches in preparation for the coming Battle of the Somme. Under the healthy influence of good sleep by night, fresh air, and exercise by day, all ranks were soon fit and well on the day they began their march back to the Somme.

These marches were generally undertaken by night. On 14 June the Battalion marched to Ecoivres, on the 15 June to Maizicourt – a total of 25 miles and not one man fell out. On the 17 June it continued to Frasnu and the next day to St Ledger. There the Battalion had a week’s halt where it won the Brigade’s Cross Country Race. Returning to the march to the Front it went first to Canaples, reaching Bonneville by 27 June; on 28 June it moved to Mirvaux and finally on 30 June the Battalion closed up to Bouzincourt not far from the Front. The 2nd Battalion, like many others in the 36th (Ulster) Division, was now poised ready to play its part in the Battle of the Somme.