Mercer papers, 9 December 1917-19 June 1919 / Harold Mercer - Page 57
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[Page 57]
Jan 12th
A beautiful morning, and everything quiet. Owing to the mistiness that prevailed in spite of the sunshine it seemed safe enough to get out of the trench & stretch a bit. There was a tang of spring in the air; and it made me feel as if I was getting rid of mouldiness. Another man in number six platoon, got out of his possie too. Then a shell came over, suddenly, and it got him.
Maginnis reckons I am off duty today. I don't know how he worked it but he reckons I am not fit. Its rotten to have everybody remarking about me looking ill. We are having a raiding party tonight, and I have asked to be included. I want to see as many of the features of the war business as I can, of course. The raid will be sort of revenge for the incident of this morning; but, seeing that it was the artillery away back that settled the account of Brown (he died of wounds) and we are attacking infantry, it is hardly a just revenge.
The authorities have just discovered that smoke is a great enemy of gas, driving it out of dugouts etc; and we have received orders that a bundle of twigs is to be kept in each dugout, to set on fire when gas is heavy & penetrates into them. Quite a lot of our fellows have got slightly gassed, and speak as though they have sore throats.