Sunday 31st October

No service.  Letter from Peter.  Great.  I cam out of trenches. 

Knew it was Sunday because heard man curse as he was digging: “Six days shalt thou labour” etc.

Saturday 30th October

Barnes tried to strafe Turks but failed.  Took over George’s duty.  Stayed 1-4 in trenches.  Feeling very low.  Turkish officer expected but not turned up.

Friday 29th October

Depressed.  George dysentery.  Had hot pancakes for dinner but couldn’t eat them as alarm sounded.  Ran off into trenches.  Nothing happened so returned.  Pancakes cold and knocked me up for 2 days.

Thursday 28th October

Wrote Baptist Times article in dugout and letters home.  At night 6.30 took 9 men down to R.E, park to draw corrugated iron for dugouts.  Men very sick and grumbled tremendously.  The fatigues for the whole Battalion being done by about 20 men.  These ten since 5 that morning had fetched rations and tkane them into firing line over hill, dug all morning, fetched mails afternoon.  Now this.  They had to take 25 sheets and I took 2 on my head so that they would have to, without grumbling.  However, trudged home 1 ½ miles up hill like elephants.  Ran into Indian mule drivers and greeted them with “Inshi, Johnnie!” (‘’Get a move on”) .  As soon as they got in they were sent off to trenches for 3 new posts.  Absolute limit.

Wednesday 27th October

Feeling better.  Made President of our Company Mess which includes the Doctor who turns out to be much nicer than his Scotch beside manner made him.  Arranged for food changes in cooking but few items to ring changes with.

Tuesday 26th October

Real porridge for breakfast.  First solid food for 10 days.  Grand.  We went back into trenches but I was attached to Reserve Company – temporarily.  Had a little fresh meat.   Heavenly, but so frightened dysentery would return,   I didn’t eat too much.