World War 1 - An Unkept Promise
Jan 29th to Feb. 5th
A
rather quiet period, the enemy seemed to have undecipherable off a little, for
at times they never replied to our fire, and the attacks of the previous week
seemed to have quieted them considerably.
Feb 6th
We
bombarded the Germans front line trenches from BRICKFIELD to RAILWAY TRIANGLE.
The fire was so effective; the Guards advanced and captured the trenches
without losing a man. The Artillery there, were afterwards highly praised in a
letter for the splendid work; special inference was given to the way
communications were kept by telephone. Undoubtedly which was for our Battery, for
at one time I was receiving and sending orders for the firing of three
batteries, besides our own, with all their lines being broken by shell-fire.
The
Battery received orders to move to relieve 55th Battery R.F.A. next day.
Feb. 7th
I
proceeded with the Captain to CROIX BARBETTE, to take over the wires and
communications of 56th Btty. Arriving there about midday, one of the
telephonists took me along the observing wire to the trenches. It was rather
quiet, save for occasional bullets; - the chap with me was rather merry. He
advised me to crawl on hands and knees across a point of ground just in rear of
the trenches, as we would get sniped. I followed a little way, but on seeing an
R.E. fellow walking about unconcerned, I thought, if it's safe enough for you,
it is for me. I walked across much to the other fellow's disgust. He got wild
when I insisted upon him helping me to mend a broken wire and prop it up on
some trees. He was very angry and crawled back, but it was quite unnecessary,
for I walked back and nothing came near me.
We
went along some reserve trenches - a few light shell were bursting a little
beyond - I traced a wire into a redoubt and dodged inside as one whizzed over.
There
was an Infantry telephonist inside, he said, 'Just in time mate, three of ours
were put out just outside a few minutes ago.' He was working away quite
unconcerned. I had a chat for a few minutes and started back, I think much to
the relief of the chap with me. On the way back, the enemy were shelling
RICHEBOURG Church with 'coal-boxes'. I stood on the road and watched about 20
go over, but they failed to reach it.
I
went into the village at night and had a few drinks of rotten trench beer, came
back to the 56th Btty and slept in a loft of the farm, and had the best night'
s un broken sleep that I had had since we were at rest, seven weeks before.
