Mercer papers, 9 December 1917-19 June 1919 / Harold Mercer - Page 17

[Page 17]

a glorious day. The dinner was quite good. A lot of poultry had arrived for the officers & somehow we managed to get at least a flavor per man in our own dinner, which was roast beef & desert. Any amount of plum pudding that we could eat followed, with, subsequently figs & custard – or what was meant to be custard & [indecipherable].
Then we had a double issue of rum and an issue of Red Cross Comforts – Chocolate, cigarettes etc. The C.O. Division sent round beer for each platoon; and the CO. Battalion did likewise – a big dixie full per platoon. Then the O.C. Company got a brain wave & also sent round a dixie-full for each of his platoons; after which the O.C. platoon decided that it was up to him. Then, of course, we shouted for ourselves & each other; and as the Battal Divisional Canteen had plenty of beer things became hilarious & noisy.

The noise had just stopped & things slumber was settling on the camp when the RSM C.S.M. woke us up by breaking in & telling us we were to sleep with our rifles & equipment handy ready to fall in, as Fritz was expected to attack in force. I felt that "the moment had come" & lay awake waiting for it for some time, but when I went to sleep nothing disturbed me till this morning.

Dec 29th
We have been lately out on some queer fatigue each day. We go out – one day it was to Messines