the casualties came faster and faster as we entered into the
shell-swept area. The machine guns were sweeping round and
were making havoc in our ranks. Gradually we drew near to
the little wood just beside Hill 60, and were told to occupy
any dug-outs there until further orders. It was at this time
that the whizz-bang shell made its debut. We had not
encountered this kind of shell before; it was one that gave
absolutely no warning and was used for quite small ranges.

"We had been in these dug-outs for about half an hour when
we were told to fall in and each man to carry two boxes of
bombs. We then went into the communication trench of the
old front line. At this stage our company commander was
wounded.

"However, we got on to the Hill, and each man was
detailed--some for firing, some for bombing, and some for
construction. All the trenches were blown in entirely, and a
large number of us, including my chum and myself, were
detailed for this construction work. Under heavy shelling we
tried to build up the blown-in portions of the trenches.
This was just at a corner leading right on to the Hill and
part of our old front line. We laboured here all night
through. Just before dawn the shelling increased, and the
bombardment grew very terrific. All possible were rushed up
into the crater to take the places of the fallen. Casualties
were terrible, and the wounded came past our corner in one
stream; several of my own friends were amongst them, and two
of them, who had come out with me, were killed just a few
yards away. This terrific cannonade continued until dawn,