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[Page 3]
Diary
Thirteen months captivity in Hunland
Wounded and captured at Reincourt near Bullicourt, France, April, 1917.
Repatriated May, 1918.
1917 April 11. The rain drizzled down miserably, as Fritz shelled the sunken road consistently, causing everyone to feel more uncomfortable than usual. I stood shivering with cold near the bank, eagerly waiting for the order to "hop over" and my section (Lewis Gunners) stood nearby, similarly anxious to commence the mornings work; which at least would lend a little warmth to one's body. My clothes were saturated with mud and wet, causing the cold morning air to pierce into one's very bones.
The 1st. 2nd. and 3rd. waves assisted by Tanks of the latest pattern had already gone forward to attack the Bosche. The incessant noise of the motors had apparently aroused the advanced Hun machine gun positions, and their Maxims were already pouring forth a heavy barrage – under cover of Artillery fire. Fortunately the latter was not extensive, consequently the effect caused few casualties, although the first salvos on the sunken road (where the men assembled in mass formation), inflicted many casualties.
The darkness was intense, and to maintain a straight line and keep touch with the various sections, involved most difficult work. We however pushed forward quickly and silently. The first 200 yards traversed towards the Hun lines, were dangerously broken by innumerable shell holes and craters, which impeded our progress considerably, and made the alignment irregular. I could see the Tanks busily breaking the first line of wire, constructed formidably in front of the Hun first line of trenches. The Tanks guns played havoc amongst the opposing M. G. detachments; they of course, offered the enemy a prominent and conspicuous target for his heavy guns, subsequently the shells fairly rained amongst us. One Tank received a direct