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[page 73]
143
(4).
of miles of these duckboard tracks in France; in fact in Winter they are absolutely necessary where men have to travel off the main hard roads.
Let us follow a Battalion into the tranches [trenches]. An officer and a couple of N.C.O's from each Company have gone up to the line the night before to obtain full particulars as to how xx it is held and the disposition of the troops in the various posts. They return and are able to divide their Companies up accordingly so that on arrival at the trenches each party can move to its appointed place without confusion. A heavy frost is on and the road is slippery so the men wrap a sandbag round each boot to help them keep their feet. Steel helmets are chalked white so as not show up against the snow. Rations and water being served all round we push off. For a mile or so we follow the road and then branch off on to a duck board track and here our troubles commence. The duckboards are frozen and are very slippery. I used to think that walking with carpet slippers on polished lino was a risky matter, but frozen duckboards beat all. It is moonlight and the duckboardx track shows up well across the snow as it winds about dodging shell holes. Falls are frequent and the language is vile. Once a man falls it requires a considerable struggle for him to get to his feet again so great is the load on his back. After three or four hours of walking and slipping we arrive at our area and each party moves off to relieve the post to which it is allotted. Half an hour goes by and then the report comes through "relief complete" and we are left in possession of that section of the line whilst the relieved Battalion winds its weary way back to the Camp from which we came. Fortunately a few clouds had come over to obscure the moon and the relief was accomplished with trifling casualities.