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[Page 24]
The total casualties for the Battalion during our stay in the trenches was fifty one wounded & killed & sick but sniping of shell fire was the only thing that was carried on & the trenches opposite our companies front was from three to four hundred yards apart. After a day or two in our billet when things again settled down we were taken for a hot bath & change of underclothes. The Battalion was put on divisional duties & we had to walk from our billet at Criox de Bac to Armenties a distance of about eight miles from their to our fatigue & arrive back home late in the afternoon. The artillery on both sides opened a bombardment during the evening of the 30th & we were aroused from our sleep & had to get into our clothes & be ready to move off in case of emergencies. On June 1st our Brigade was inspected by Mr Fischer High Commissioner & Mr Hughes Prime minister for Australia & a few small speeches were made & then the parade was dismissed.. At 2.30 am on the 5th we were pulled out of bed & had a fifteen mile route march before breakfast which was 10.30 am & then the afternoon had a lecture on bayonet fighting by a "Tommy Sgt Major"
We left our billet at dusk on the 9th & marched to fresh billets at Fleur-Baix where we relieved the Seventh Batt. A couple of days previous to moving