Rain ceased but not the artillery which still roars. I go sniping in morning & bag 2. Fire 150 shots. They fired in return & nearly get me but Dame Fortune favours me once more.
Artillery duel on our right. A German sniper manages to put a bullet through Corporal Bramley-Moore’s head. He is still lingering between life & death at 7:30 PM. His face is a horrible sight to gaze on & covered in blood.
The 43rd Regt. relieves us. I act as guide to the 4th CMR. 43rd Regt. & stood on “point duty” at “Charing Cross.” The enemy search the woods with machine guns & I am forced to lay down on leaves at 10:30 PM. (one [or, four?] of officers of 43rd extremely drunk)
Sunday 26 September 1915 – fair
Rifle inspection at 9. Spent rest of day talking to French soldiers and bathing in Somme Canal. At 9:30 pm a sudden order comes from Head Quarters to pack up immediately for the trenches. All is hurry and scurry but we only took 5 minutes to “fall in”. I had a big mail of parcels and papers etc, heavy laden. On the march at 8 pm over wet soggy and muddy ground. The flares of the Germans make the scene weird. Our big guns make devilish noise. Landed in trench and “put up” at a dugout, very cleverly made – dry. All the “Old Pats” are put on sentry go. I go on sentry with Private Creed and stay from 9 pm till 5:30 am. A German sniper has this spot for a target as he makes it very uncomfortable for both of us.