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[Page 10]
warren of trenches and dugouts. German equipment and great dumps of unexploded German shells lay about in great profusion. It needs seeing to realise what an effort it took to capture such a position but even here I had not yet seen the devasting [devastating] effect of the British Artillery in its greatest effort.
I hesitate yet about crossing that road which we were ordered to do. Already we were splashed to the thighs with mud. It was a long while since we gave up the effort to dodge puddle holes. There were several roads converging here mostly leading past a square where there were watering troughs for the mules and horses. These roads were thronged with guns, gun carriages, motor and horse transports, pack horses and mules, the whole roads being churned up into a quagmire. Round the watering troughs was a sea of liquid mud. If I said tens of thousands I might lie, if I said hundreds of thousands I might also prevaricate, so I confine myself to generalities. I know they are watered by twos in an endless stream for hours, the screaming of the mules making a most unpleasantly weird sound, that makes me think of the chilly heights of Spanish or South American Sierras.
The Road! Some of us essayed to find a better spot. Wiser ones went straight at it lifting the legs quickly. I did that, crossed and fell in a heap on the far side. Less fortunate ones lost boots at the expense of a torn heel, others stuck fast, not being able to move either leg until assisted by someone with a discarded pack. Others fell full length where they lay until relieved by their packs and helped out. This mud is of light brown colour & is as elastic as molasses without being as volatile. It sticks in great clods round your boots until you are carrying 7 or 8 lbs on each. No use knocking it off, it immediately collects again. When attached to clothing it has to be cut off when dried - not the mud itself, but the wool of the material. Basting with a stick is almost futile. This mud then comes part of our daily trials and our greatest enemy varying in a greater
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