King diary, 1 April-31 August 1917 / James Clive Selwyn King - Page 15

[Page 15]

14th
Infantry "hopped over" at 4 a.m. & took 1000 yds., fritz no where to be seen. A few shells landed on our right & left, the day was quiet.

15th
Midnight was barely passed when fritz began a barage all along our front. Shells fell everywhere & I thought our hour had come. We lay in our dugouts & waited – what more could we do? This murderous fire contd. till day break toward which I said the first prayer for many a long day. At 4 a.m. the enemy "came over" in massed formation but after appaling losses retired without any gain.

I hear some say they lie 3 & 4 deep in front of our trench. Prisoners told us that 3 regiments came all the way from Cambria to attack at this point. While I write the shells