Note 25 — Chapter VII · THE EVE OF THE GREAT GERMAN ATTACK. (November 1917-March 1918.)

Of Lukin Sir Douglas Haig wrote: “Coming to France in April 1916, his skilful command of the South African Brigade soon induced me to select him for command of the 9th Division. This division he has commanded with skill and ability in many hard-fought battles, and I have looked on him as one of the most reliable divisional commanders in France.” Lieut-Col. Croft in his Three Years with the 9th Division has this pleasant tale of Lukin at Third Ypres: “In the early stage of the night march we met the divisional commander, who, like all the divisional commanders of the 9th Division, spent most of his time near the front lines. He was on his way back, and this good old regimental officer insisted on getting off the track and up to his knees in mud while the men went by, saying, ‘I have a comfortable dug-out to go back to,’ when we offered to make way for him.”