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and bring down small bits of earth on us； or else the earth thrown
into the air by the explosion would come spattering down on our roof；
and into the front of the dugout。 Col。 Morrison tried the mess house；
but the shelling was too heavy； and he and the adjutant joined
Cosgrave and me； and we four spent an anxious night there in the dark。
One officer was on watch 〃on the bridge〃 （as we called the trench
at the top of the ridge） with the telephones。
Monday； April 26th； 1915。
Another day of heavy actions； but last night much French and British artillery
has come in； and the place is thick with Germans。 There are many prematures
（with so much firing） but the pieces are usually spread before they get to us。
It is disquieting； however； I must say。 And all the time the birds sing
in the trees over our heads。 Yesterday up to noon we fired 3000 rounds
for the twenty…four hours； to…day we have fired much less；
but we have registered fresh fronts； and burned some farms
behind the German trenches。 About six the fire died down；
and we had a peaceful evening and night； and Cosgrave and I in the dugout
made good use of it。 The Colonel has an individual dugout；
and Dodds sleeps 〃topside〃 in the trench。 To all this； put in a background
of anxiety lest the line break； for we are just where it broke before。
Tuesday； April 27th； 1915。
This morning again registering batteries on new points。
At 1。30 a heavy attack was prepared by the French and ourselves。
The fire was very heavy for half an hour and the enemy got busy too。
I had to cross over to the batteries during it； an unpleasant journey。
More gas attacks in the afternoon。 The French did not appear
to press the attack hard； but in the light of subsequent events
it probably was only a feint。 It seems likely that about this time
our people began to thin out the artillery again for use elsewhere；
but this did not at once become apparent。 At night usually
the heavies farther back take up the story； and there is a duel。
The Germans fire on our roads after dark to catch reliefs and transport。
I suppose ours do the same。
Wednesday； April 28th； 1915。
I have to confess to an excellent sleep last night。 At times anxiety says；
〃I don't want a meal；〃 but experience says 〃you need your food；〃
so I attend regularly to that。 The billet is not too safe either。
Much German air reconnaissance over us； and heavy firing from both sides
during the day。 At 6。45 we again prepared a heavy artillery attack；
but the infantry made little attempt to go on。 We are perhaps
the 〃chopping block〃； and our 〃preparations〃 may be chiefly designed
to prevent detachments of troops being sent from our front elsewhere。
I have said nothing of what goes on on our right and left；
but it is equally part and parcel of the whole game； this eight mile front
is constantly heavily engaged。 At intervals； too； they bombard Ypres。
Our back lines； too； have to be constantly shifted on account of shell fire；
and we have desultory but constant losses there。 In the evening
rifle fire gets more frequent； and bullets are constantly singing over us。
Some of them are probably ricochets； for we are 1800 yards； or nearly；
from the nearest German trench。
Thursday； April 29th； 1915。
This morning our billet was hit。 We fire less these days；
but still a good deal。 There was a heavy French attack on our left。
The 〃gas〃 attacks can be seen from here。 The yellow cloud rising up
is for us a signal to open； and we do。 The wind is from our side to…day；
and a good thing it is。 Several days ago during the firing
a big Oxford…grey dog； with beautiful brown eyes； came to us in a panic。
He ran to me； and pressed his head HARD against my leg。
So I got him a safe place and he sticks by us。 We call him Fleabag；
for he looks like it。
This night they shelled us again heavily for some hours
the same shorts； hits； overs on percussion； and great yellow…green air bursts。
One feels awfully irritated by the constant din a mixture of anger
and apprehension。
Friday； April 30th； 1915。
Thick mist this morning； and relative quietness； but before it cleared
the Germans started again to shell us。 At 10 it cleared；
and from 10 to 2 we fired constantly。 The French advanced；
and took some ground on our left front and a batch of prisoners。
This was at a place we call Twin Farms。 Our men looked curiously
at the Boches as they were marched through。 Some better activity
in the afternoon by the Allies' aeroplanes。 The German planes
have had it too much their way lately。 Many of to…day's shells
have been very large 10 or 12 inch； a lot of tremendous holes
dug in the fields just behind us。
Saturday； May 1st； 1915。
May day！ Heavy bombardment at intervals through the day。
Another heavy artillery preparation at 3。25； but no French advance。
We fail to understand why； but orders go。 We suffered somewhat
during the day。 Through the evening and night heavy firing at intervals。
Sunday； May 2nd； 1915。
Heavy gunfire again this morning。 Lieut。 H was killed at the guns。
His diary's last words were； 〃It has quieted a little and I shall try
to get a good sleep。〃 I said the Committal Service over him；
as well as I could from memory。 A soldier's death！
Batteries again registering barrages or barriers of fire at set ranges。
At 3 the Germans attacked； preceded by gas clouds。 Fighting went on
for an hour and a half； during which their guns hammered heavily
with some loss to us。 The French lines are very uneasy；
and we are correspondingly anxious。 The infantry fire was very heavy；
and we fired incessantly； keeping on into the night。 Despite the heavy fire
I got asleep at 12； and slept until daylight which comes at 3。
Monday； May 3rd； 1915。
A clear morning； and the accursed German aeroplanes over our positions again。
They are usually fired at； but no luck。 To…day a shell on our hill
dug out a cannon ball about six inches in diameter probably of Napoleon's
or earlier times heavily rusted。 A German attack began；
but half an hour of artillery fire drove it back。 Major ； R。A。；
was up forward； and could see the German reserves。 Our 4th was turned on：
first round 100 over； shortened and went into gunfire； and his report
was that the effect was perfect。 The same occurred again in the evening；
and again at midnight。 The Germans were reported to be constantly massing
for attack； and we as constantly 〃went to them〃。 The German guns
shelled us as usual at intervals。 This must get very tiresome to read；
but through it all； it must be mentioned that the constantly broken
communications have to be mended； rations and ammunition brought up；
the wounded to be dressed and got away。 Our dugouts have the French Engineers
and French Infantry next door by turns。 They march in and out。
The back of the hill is a networ