We leave the lower firing line and move into “Whiz-Bang Corner” at the “Crows Nest”. There are no dug-outs for No. 9 Section, so rest in open whilst the others sleep (till noon) then our section returns for a rest.
At 4:30 pm I report to Medical Officer as I have a bad cold. Get medicine and sleep at stretcher –bearers dug-out.
At 5:30 pm Germans send over a whiz bang, which falls into the trench opposite the dugout where I had been sleeping. It killed Private 10993 GM Hodgson the son of a C of E Parson of Bishops Waltham and shock [sic] Private 51291 Kirby, HE.
As I passed up the trench I came upon the stretcher bearers who were in a tight place with the dead body of Hodgson on the stretcher. I lifted Hodgson into my arms and let them get the stretcher free. Hodgson had half his face blown away. I sleep at the stretcher-bearers dug-out. Feel very weak.
A Taube flies over our lines and we open fire but fail to hit it (5 pm).
Corporal Brown of 2 Company wounded in the arm and leg.
Tuesday 5 October 1915 – dull and rain
Rifle inspection at 11:45 pm. To trenches again at 7 pm. No. 13 Platoon to go to “Whiz-Bang Corner” and 15 to a demolished village honeycombed with trenches called Frize.
*Whiz-Bang Corner – A site in the city of Lievin, nicknamed for the heavy shelling done to the town by the Germans.
*Whiz-Bang – A term used by Allied forces to describe any form of German field artillery shells. The name comes from the noise made by 77mm field guns. As the bullets were supersonic soldiers heard the whiz of the shell before the bang of the gun itself, giving almost no warning of incoming shells.
