FRANCE.
September 25th 1916.
6th D.L.I.
B.E.F.
Surely truth is stranger than fiction!! Last night I
Had a most excellent sleep in No Man’s Land, during a fairly
Heavy bombardment such as is practically continuous in this
The greatest battle of the War!!
Had I not the testimony of some of the most gallant fellows
Whoever walked God’s earth, even to you, I should hardly care
To relate the facts of an episode which sounds so improbable
Of having occurred. There was another big attack yesterday.
After it was over my Battalion had to go up to the front line –
We were in reserve - and dig what is called a “jumping off trench”
For another Brigade to attack from this morning. This trench had
To be dug in advance of our own front line mid-way between that
Trench and the Germans. Arrived in No Man’s Land after a most
Tiring March, including many falls into “Crump” holes etc., we were
Absolutely unable to find any Officer, N.C.O. or man of the Brigade
In the front line who knew exactly where the trench had to be dug.
The Adjutant roamed about until challenged by Botches and it is a
Thousand wonders we were not all wiped out by Machine gun fire.
Tired of waiting and rather exhausted after the long march I must
Have fallen off to sleep as the next thing I knew was that one of
My Sergeants who was lying next to me woke me up and told me that
We had to return as the exact location of the site of the trench
Had not been defined!!
I am pleased to say that I got the whole Company back with-
Out a single casualty. As a matter of fact up to the present
My Company, “Y” proverbial for their luck in the Battalion have
Had only 15 casualties whereas other Companies have lost at least
50 per cent of their personnel!
Having seen the famous “Tanks” both before going into
Action, when I inspected them very minutely, I am very much
Amused at the illustrations of them in the Press.
Well I think I have given you some idea of what it is like
Out here. Men live and die like heroes and face with the greatest
Of courage that which no men ought to be called upon to face, I
Can say no more.