Blankets rolled in bundle of ten and preparation made to go into trenches tonight. Left Dranoutre 4:45 PM for trenches arr. 6:30. Take over D3 + D4. Night passed quiet except for sniping
Sergt Landells is wounded in leg by bullet discharged by a 42nd Battn Canadian whilst in trenches. General Macdonnell visits trenches.
Sunday 16 January 1916
To headquarters at 8 am then on to the trenches. Sniped all the way by Hun snipers. Cutting hair up till 2 PM in the front line trenches. To RE farm about to enter when Huns open fire with Shells. Drop into nearest hole & see the damage done. They burst only 100 yards from me + I take — [photo] of them. Get to farm without mishap. On return, get usual sniping arrive 4 Co at 5 PM. Company moves to Dranoutre for 4 days rest. Arr. Dranoutre at 7: 45 PM. David Yound & Walter Dunham arr: back from leave
*Dranoutre – A city in Belgium close to the French border that was occupied by Allied troops from the beginning of the war. It was taken by the Germans in April of 1918 but was quickly recaptured in August of that same year. It is now the site of 458 Commonwealth graves as well as one German war grave.
Sunday 9 January 1916
The battn leaves Thieushouck at 5:30 am for Neuve Eglise via Bailleul. I travel alone by way of Saint Jean Cappel Left T. at 6:45 am & arr N.E. 12 noon passed thro’ Dranoutre. Coy 4 is allotted rotten billet. The whole Co in one barn. No one to leave billet except on Pass. Lights out at 5:30 PM!!! Mail comes up but cannot read it till morn. Billet guard is put on. All around Farm there are shell holes from different calibre guns.
* Neuve Eglise – Also known as Nieuwkerke, it is a Belgian village in West Flanders just on the border of France. As part of the Ypres Salient area during the Frist World War, Neuve Eglise was very close to the front line trenches.
