Friday 23/4/15
My dear Mother,
Again I write to you from the firing line though at
this moment I am in a log cabin in a wood about 100yds behind our trench. I
have just enjoyed the first decent meal in 2 days. Also I got 5hrs sleep this
morning between 5am & 10am which is all I have had in 60hrs so I am full of
beans.
Things have been very quiet so far today but
yesterday we had a very trying experience. It had been very peaceful all day
& we had been working steadily repairing our trench which is absolutely
rotten. I was just beginning tea when a rifle grenade burst 10yds away on a
parapet & showered muck in my dog kennel. For the next 15 mins they gave us
blazes. Presently the word came up for the stretcher – bearers so I doubled
down the trench & found that one of the beastly things had burst in the
middle of three of our boys as they were having their tea. We had our hands
full before the stretcher–bearers arrived as two of them had arteries in the
leg pierced. We got improvised tourniquets on a once & then the S.B.’s were
able to dress the wounds. All 3 were badly damaged about the legs but I am hopeful
they will all be right again.
I had no sooner finished this & gone to
the telephone to get the Artillery to silence the Germans (for they were
putting those grenades over at one a minute & we couldn’t reply) when word
came out that a fellow a been hit by a sniper. I doubled down the line
again only to find, the poor chap – a Lance Corporal dead. It was horrible his
head was shattered. I won’t harrow your nerves any more. Of course the men were
very down hearted but we had to carry on as if nothing had happened. We had to
get the wounded out & that is a hard job under fire these narrow trenches
where a stretcher can’t go.
In the dead of night I got a Chaplain &
we buried the poor fellow in this wood. After this we had to carry a lot of
timber etc up carrying 20ft planks in bright moonlight in the open is somewhat
exciting & I felt profoundly relieved when after 3 journeys I got my men
safely back into the trenches about 1am. The hours of dark are so precious that
we have to sue every minute of them till just before dawn when every man stands
to his post in case of an attack. About 4 30am it is usually safe to sleep
(with only a few sentries out) till 10am or 11am.
The men have recovered their spirits again.
We put in some steel loopholes last night & now they can snipe at the
Germans in safety which relieves their pent up feelings. I must get back to the
trench now as the evening entertainment of shelling will probably begin. I find
my periscope absolutely invaluable I can sit by the hour & watch the
enemy’s trenches in absolute safety where as if I had to put my head over, I
don’t suppose my life would be worth a minutes notice in day time at night it
is comparatively safe.
We surprised a German working party last
night. They were out improving their wire & I heard them driving in posts
in front of their trenches. So we sent up 2 flares & gave them 5 rounds
rapid. Of course we couldn’t see the result.
By the way, Pat is of course in my Company
& we are always within 100yds of each other. Cameron is in C Company &
we only see each other occasionally. But I know he’s all right. You mustn’t
worry about us because an officer is rarely hit in the
trenches.
