Item 01: James William Dains diary, 21 November 1916-4 June 1917 - Page 34

[Page 34]

driven out again leaving two dead in the trenches & while returning were badly cut up crossing no mans land. They got a machine gun & one or two prisoners so they say. We had 11 killed & 25 wounded some were gassed. This is the first real daylight attack we have had. Our artillery they say was good. McCook & I went down to Houplines at 10 oclock tonight to make cocoa for the men who were working in the trenches & we stayed there till 4 oclock in the morning. The men greatly appreciated a cup of cocoa at that hour. It was a perishing night. The ground was frozen hard. On the way we called at the A. Dressing Station & saw a few wounded. Mr Carmichael was on the table when we got there. He was badly knocked about but had no bones broken. His face was badly scratched & his eyes were very sore. Evidently he was buried for a while. They say he stuck to his post splendidly & rumours