THE YPRES TIMES
After three days of this we handed over the guns to another battery and then
went forward with another set of guns. We came into action in some partially-
made open positions along the shell-battered valley of the Broombeek. The
objective for which the men in front of us were fighting was an advance in the
region of Houthulst Forest, but though some progress was made the operations wefe
frustrated by the weather.
Here our Battery did not possess a friendly pill-box or dug-out in which to
shelter. During the ten days I spent at this position I was never able to have an
hour's sleep or even get my feet and clothing dry. Six of us lived in a shell-hole,
[Imperial War Museum, Crown Copyright
HAULING A FIELD GUN OUT OF THE MUD ON THE PILCKEM RIDGE
Photo]
our only cover being a canvas trench shelter which we have carried on the gun
through the foresight of the sergeant. As the historian has recorded, Such
fighting was the last word in human misery, for the country was now one irreclaim
able bog, and the occasional hours of watery sunshine had no power to dry it."
We were sustained by the thought of our duty to the men in front. I remember
on one occasion standing to the guns in readiness for the S.O.S. as the Germans
were expected to counter-attack. We got the call to action, and no sooner had we
commenced to fire than the enemy guns began to shell our position. Not a man
flinched, in fact, we were so eager to serve the guns that we had no time to think
of danger. We came through the ordeal with a few minor casualties.