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[Page 30]
had to fall back upon the rain water in the shell holes. This was always of a horrible taste from the fumes of the explosive and at times poisoned by the chlorine of the gas shells, and added to that, the whole of the country side was polluted by dead bodies so you can imagine the danger of drinking it - but thirst is unendurable.
This second spell "in" was for 4 days and not so strenuous, but we did not know until relieved, how long we were to be there. Being with a smaller party and leaving after the Battalion withdrew I had an easier time coming out. On arriving at our billets we found none left for us. There was nothing else for it but to Camp in a large Marquee with no blankets, huddled together in mud and wet and rain pouring down outside. Next day we marched out to Fricourt where the offensive was started, or really which was one of the first villages captured. Here we camped for a night in huts. Clean and dry, they seemed a perfect abode after our experiences during the past fortnight. Not many souvenirs were carried out by our fellows. Thats a fair weather idea in my estimation. I would like to have brought some out very much, but I felt just able to carry myself and necessaries. There were lots of articles of German equipment and clothing lying about, such as mess tins, waterbottles, belts and haversacks, and even several of the coveted "Nickelhauben" [possibly Pickelhaube] in fairly good order; but they were mostly Artillery helmets, which have a knob instead of the usual spike. They are very trashily made though. The mountings and chain being poor tinney stuff, like that on a cheap mouth organ. All I allowed myself was a couple of Fritz's clips with a cartridge or two, a pocket-book containing letters in German and blank field Post Karts etc., and a couple of lapels off an overcoat just to show you the colour of his "Field Grey".
A weary march to the village we were billeted at before going "in" was our next day's programme, and from there we were transported by motor cars to our rest billets at a small farming village outside of Amiens. After getting myself and
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