Mercer papers, 9 December 1917-19 June 1919 / Harold Mercer - Page 51
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[Page 51]
Jan 7Dec 7
Have neglected this business and must pick it up someway as best I can.
This day our company moved back to Rose. Wood, which is adjacent to the Ravine and bivouaced in trenches which seem to have been badly knocked about. C & D Companies have gone in, & taken possession of the Ravine & front line.
As a matter of fact there is really a gap in the line in front of Rose Wood, but the ground is so low lying that it is practically impassable. We get a very bad time here, as is already evident, from machine gun fire, & shells, chiefly gas. D Company had a number of casualties while in this position.
The doctor, who would not let me go back to the line, ordered me back here in advance of the Company, & one of the men in the platoon who was out because he going back to a school humped my pack for me. I got into a very nice dugout, but discovered during the day that a Fritz machine played right across the entrance. When the Company arrived at night there was a quarrel between the signallers & some of the sergeants as to who were to have the place. I was glad to leave it to them.
I am sharing a "possie" with Sgt Maginnis. It is a section of trench that has been cut off by the demolition of some of the original trench by shells. Originally it was part of a German system. Hanging