Item 02: Leslie Kemnitz Stuart diary, 4 March-28 December 1916 - Page 220
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[Page 220]
[Tuesday 25 July]
Spent the day in the same place, We had just got nicely to sleep when we were called out to get ready to go to the front line. We moved off shortly after 10pm through batteries in action wheel to wheel, 6in 4.7in & 60 pds [?] the artillery which is making the Hun crouch in his dugout & stay there. Through Contalmaison across the narrow open valley beyond, filled with thousands of shell holes & lit by the fitful ever present glare of the guns in the rear, then half an hours sit in the open while the 20th Batt opened out for a charge, which was unsuccessful owing to them not knowing the ground, past a dressing station where one poor chap was gurgling his life away through a jagged hole in his throat, then through a communication sap where we stayed till daylight about 600 yds behind the front line.