Brewster 'A Glimpse of War through a Private's Eyes', a retrospective account of experiences in World War I, 1915-1917 / John James Brewster - Page 163
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[Page 163]
effect of the fire from the battery enfilading on the left. Ten men had up till then been put out of action by it in that bay alone. It was suggested to the officer that this was a matter that should have been reported to the officer in charge of the Sector, who would no doubt send a message to our artillery to open fire on it, so that at least its accuracy would be affected.
Much to the mens surprise, the subaltern answered Oh! I could never do that! That is the Brigadier's work! The Sentry said. Its pretty rotten to see ones comrades falling when one gun would stop the frightful loss to the battalion. While the officer was present the Hun battery enfilading shells started screeching behind us, on their way to come down with unerring regularity & his attention was drawn to the fact so that there could be no mistake about this battery causing so many casualties. Oh! said the officer, I have been watching the effect of its work! & then had to go to his "bay" on the right.
This enfilade fire continued till 8 am on Thursday (20 July/20) when its punishing effect was almost nullified by the fire from our guns. If the Hun artillerists are being shelled, while shelling, they appear to become very nervy, for the accuracy of their fire deteriorates immediately
Towards morning as the whole of the men who had charged (& were able) had returned & as our guns had again started "Slamming it in" to the Huns & therefore made things very much easier for those in the front line, who had been "standing to" all that horrible night, the opportunity was taken to at once ask for an explanation from the men who had returned, as to why, in spite of the special & distinct instructions, they had after capturing the second trench, gone beyond that objective & taken the third trench, well knowing that our gun fire would be playing on