CHAPTER IX

BILGE TRENCH

When I got to Bilge Trench I found that the facilities for letter-writing were not quite what they had been before.  But there was plenty to write about.  Every hour one was confronted with some new aspect of modern warfare.  I had an interesting taste of it in Bilge Trench and its vicinity!  On July 5 I began a letter home in the following tone:  “Letter-writing of the proper kind is becoming quite a problem.  I am quite behind-hand, but fortunately I am keeping lengthy diary notes in pencil; so, if I have not the time to let you know all my experiences just now, I hope to get a connected narrative together sometime.  How ripping it will be when that far-off day arrives when I can come home and tell you all about everything!  It will be a long tale which I shall have to tell.  I have almost forgotten which articles from home I have acknowledged and which not.  I received a nice parcel the other day, containing a cake which we had for tea in the mess and which was duly appreciated—­also chocolates, toffee, ink, socks, and badge....”  As this letter intimates, the diary tells the clearest story at this period.  So for the time being I will quote from the diary: 

“July 3rd.

“I left Potijze at 7.20 a.m. accompanied by a runner named Firth.  We passed A Company in Garden Street on the way.  I saw Captain Briggs, Hickey, Kerr, and Walsh.  They have had no casualties yet.  We arrived in Bilge Trench at 8 a.m.  Here I found Captain Bodington, Victor Telfer, and Beesley.  I had a cup of tea and a sleep during the morning.  In the afternoon I sent for my batman, Critchley, as I expected to be here some days.  He brought up some letters for me....  In the evening Captain Blamey returned from leave, and so takes over command of D Company.  At 10.30 p.m.  Beesley went out into no man’s land with a patrol; and Kerr, of A Company, Telfer, and I went out on a wiring party just behind him.  We went up Durham Trench by ourselves first; the party followed on after.  Machine-gun bullets whizzed past the desolate area; it was not exactly pleasant.  We went on along New Garden Street, and waited for the parties.  Then they drew wire and pickets which had been dumped by a carrying party under Giffin.  The Brigade-Major and Colonel Best-Dunkley went past us while we were at this spot.  We were delayed some time.  Then we moved on and got into Hopkins Trench, a new trench pushed out right beyond our front line.  They began to get over the top here, but made a great row about it.  Naturally the enemy heard us and a hell of a strafe began.  It continued for about five minutes; then we got on again.  Beesley’s covering party was right out in front of a hedge in no man’s land.  Our men started wiring in front of Hopkins Trench, and just behind the hedge.  Things seem very weird out there; from the continual series of Very lights it looks just as if the enemy trenches were stretched all around one.  While we were there a little raid took place on our left.  At times machine-guns fired across from both sides—­not exactly pleasant for us in the middle of it all!