On the 19th a dozen “Minnies” fell on our front line—again no one was hurt; on 20th December, 1916, the Hun shelled us all day; no casualties, bitter wind and snow, aeroplanes active, a Hun machine being brought down over their lines at 1 15.
21st December, 1916. Great artillery activity. Our front line trenches were cleared with the exception of a few Lewis guns from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Our heavies bombarded the enemy trenches from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. The field guns cut wire opposite our front line from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., after which the heavies resumed operations. In the evening a patrol located an enemy sentry post in the Long Sap. On the 22nd the artillery programme was repeated; the enemy retaliated and caused one casuality. On the 23rd the 1/4th King’s Own raided over our heads, entering the enemy trenches and finding them deserted; the enemy retaliated heavily, causing three casualties, one man (Duerden) being killed in the front line by a bit of shell. As the front line was simply plastered with shells, we were lucky not to have more.
“There was a pretty heavy strafe this morning early,” writes the Diarist; “it went on for about an hour and left one kind of dazed and sleepy.”
Christmas Eve was very quiet; the great question was, “Were we to stay in the line over Christmas or not?” Our joy on hearing that we were to go out was tempered by pity for the King’s Own, who relieved us.
Christmas Day. “Out of trenches! Came out last night and forthwith had a shave and partial wash. We sent an Officer on, and when we landed here (YPRES) the men found candles lit and fires going in their billets, and we had ditto in ours. To-day we gave the men a decent Christmas dinner, and are now about to have one ourselves—a roaring fire, plenty of candles, turkey stuffed with the stuffing, beer, vin ordinaire, pudding, and sundries have the promise of a very pleasant evening in them, if the Boche will refrain from throwing stuff over—he peppered this place some to-day! To-morrow, work—pulling things together—refitting, cleaning, reorganising; to-night, Christmas Day, home thoughts, comfort and God bless everyone, especially those at home, who are always with us in thought—what we owe to their prayers no man knows.”
Second Lieutenant Tyldesley was largely responsible for the success of the dinner referred to. The Battalion dined in the MAGAZINE, two Companies at a time, on hastily-made tables and waited on by the Officers; there was pork and goose mixed (Tyldesley’s tunic bore the marks of goose-grease for long after), and trimmings, plum pudding and dessert and fruit and beaucoup beer, and we drank “The King” and everyone enjoyed themselves.
26th. “Everyone in splendid form after a day’s rest and a good feed, a sort of cheery, alert look on everyone’s face that I haven’t seen for a long time.” 220 men were on working parties that day, and on the 27th we were relieved by the 1/5th South Lancashires and went back to C Camp, this time by train—‘the Midnight Choo-choo’ as some wit dubbed it. The silent assembly of troops at YPRES Station, the entraining, and the gradual withdrawal of the train from that stricken area into cultivated country, are some of the things we shall never cease to recall with complete vividness. The following days were devoted to the usual cleaning and inspections, etc.
Christmas 1916.
Best Wishes from