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[Page 102]
Today I have been wondering at the silence shown by the enemy, notwithstanding most stinging fire from our various guns & I think I remarked a few pages back at the various guessing by our corp as to the ultimate result. It came tonight & rather briskly. A note was thrust into one of the trenches presumedly by their aeroplane & it called us some unwholesome names & said we were going to be pushed over into the sea.
It transpires that their reserves (2 divisions) were rushed across & thrown at our trenches "en masse". Their artillery had been silent throughout the whole day & for a good cause. Everyone of their guns had been changed & planted afresh. Whilst awaiting orders for our usual night round we received a most awful surprise – a concussion shell broke through our excellent shelter & took a dive, as we all did, into the earth. From then, a little before 7 p.m. until 8 p.m. they went at it like hell let loose, & it must not be supposed our guns were idle; they were doing their part only we couldn't see the result of their fire. All throughout the night (19/5/15) the Turks kept coming up & were mown down, again & again, & considering all, we lost comparatively few men from their rifle fire. At times it was necessary to leave the trenches & rush them back otherwise they would have been too close to be healthy but our men worked without orders with the bayonet & it soon told on these mass rushes. At daybreak