Item 01: James William Dains diary, 21 November 1916-4 June 1917 - Page 52

[Page 52]

old house next door about 6 yards from the dressing station which at that time was crowded with men. We finished up at about 6 oclock in the morning having passed through 70 wounded including the Germans.
The raid I fancy was a success although the left wing was held up by German bombers whose trench had escaped the strafe. The German trenches were battered to pieces & their losses must have been very heavy. Our killed are not yet counted up but I expect it will be about 30.
An aeroplane was up & dropped parachute lights indicating the gun positions of the Bosch.
The whole front was like a scene from fairyland with its star shells & red & green lights except for the screech of devilish shells & the roar of artillery.
Went home at 7 in the morning. I began to feel tired then. Our Batt. on whose