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[Page 44]
kept our heads down. I got a whack on the back from about a pound of dirt, and thought a shell had got me. However, for some reason, none chose to fall amongst our small group, and after about half an hour it died down. We all felt relieved, and kept a sharp look out, but Fritz did not follow up. On reporting "all correct" to the 2nd Battalion on our right later on, we learnt that they had suffered some casualties. There were some nasty wounds and a few deaths, but the outpost occupied by the 3rd Btn, were very lucky. At 11 pm the food containers arrived. and we recognised what a godsend this warm food was to the men in the front line. The poor beggars carrying it were just about done, as I had been before. At 12 PM. an Officers patrol visited us, and gave us a nip of rum. This is an absolute necessity in these conditions, that I am certain of.
Just before daybreak we moved off to a trench about 100 yards away where we expected to find some dugouts, and where we were to spend the day. The trench was a running stream of water, and the reputed "dugouts" merely funk-holes in the sides, with measurements about 4' x 4' x 4'. We laid our waterproof sheets down and wrapped our blankets round us, took our boots off, and turned in. But there was little sleep to be had. The cramped position made every joint ache. Just at day break the containers arrived again, and with them an AMC man to see that everyone rubbed his feet with whale-oil. Two men were removed with trench feet. The oil is supposed to be a great help in preventing it. Anyway, the massage & rubbing does a lot of good.
When it became light, I lay for several hours watching some stretcher bearers remove the wounded from the 2nd Btn trenches. There's no doubt the bearers a [are] plucky men. One pair two [took] an hour and a half to go about 3 hundred yards. It sounds incredible, but it is a fact. They sank each step above the knees in the dreadful mud. Be it said to