Mercer papers, 9 December 1917-19 June 1919 / Harold Mercer - Page 72
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[Page 72]
a sign left intact is "L'Aiglon D'Or in the railway square – a cafe, of course uninhabited. Just as we turned back from the railway square a shell landed in it; and thereafter shells poured in quick succession into the place. We made haste to get out; we had no cover to get into, & felt like rats in a trap.
There was no means of judging where the next shell was likely to fall, when Fritz was firing at random into the place; it might land on top of yourself.
A matter that surprised me was that a tall chimney stack had been left standing. It must have been an excellent firing mark for the Germans & its removal would seem elementary wisdom.
On the road back from Ypres, which had been quiet enough, previously, we passed a newly dead horse, and a broken wagon, and other signs of shelling
March 7th
Beautiful weather has come again; and it is really spring. There are birds and rabbits disturbed in areas towards the line where we are working; it seems strange to see them living undisturbed in the scenes of war. A blackbird perches every morning on a bough of the hedge near my tent, being quite a pleasant friend.
The beautiful weather has brought increased artillery activity however. Our own artillery "stunts" every night, and often during the day; and Fritz is