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.
Wednesday 22 September 1915 – fine
Two more parades: one a “kit inspection”!! The other skirmishing absolutely ridiculous! Watched a German Aeroplane attacked by our airmen, fired at by shells. Our airmen riddled him with a machine gun and he descended within our lines. Three of our ‘planes surrounded him. I take a swim in the Somme River and Canal. Our maxim gun section go to trenches
*Kit inspection – Inspection of a soldiers “kit” or military belongings and uniform. The kit was supposed to be arranged in a specific way for inspection while the soldier stood next to the kit.
