In the early afternoon the Major went down to Headquarters.  He rang me up from there to say that two guns were to be pulled out at once, and the other two to double their rate of fire.  No. 4 gun was now engaging two different targets with alternate rounds and different charges.

When the Major came back, he called all the men together and said.  “I am not going to conceal anything from you.  The situation is serious.  The Italians have had a bad reverse up north.  But there is no need for anyone to get panicky.  We shall pull out and go back to-night.  That is all I know at present.  When I know more, I will tell you more.  One gun will remain in action till the last.  No. 2 is the easiest to get out, so I have chosen her for the post of honour.”  As the men scattered, I heard several saying, “Good old No. 2!”

The Major told me that the Austrians were almost in Cividale, staggering news.  Tractors and lorries were to come and take away our guns and stores in the evening.  But the number of tractors was very limited and Raven was doubtful if enough would come in time.  The whole Third Army was retreating, and three British Batteries, ourselves, the Battery in Pec village and the Battery at Rupa, would be the last three Batteries of Medium or Heavy Calibre left on this part of the Front.

All through the afternoon and evening Italian Infantry and Artillery were retreating through Pec.  Some looked stolid, others depressed, others merely puzzled.  But a little later a Battalion came along the road the other way, going up to be sacrificed on Nad Logem.  They halted to rest by the roadside, full of gaiety and courage.  They cheered our men on No. 2 gun, who were pumping out shells as fast as they could.  “Bravi inglesi!” cried the Italians, and some of our men replied, “Good luck, Johnny!” Unknown Italians were always “Johnny.”

As the dark came on, ammunition dumps began to go up everywhere; the Italians were deliberately exploding them, and great flashes of light, brighter than even an Italian noonday, lit up the whole sky for minutes at a time.  Romano’s Battery next door to us threw the remains of their ammunition into the river, and pulled out and away about 6.30.  They were horse-drawn and did not need to wait for tractors.  We wished each other good-bye, and hoped we might meet again some better day.  We too got orders to destroy all ammunition we could not fire, as there would be no transport to take it away.  So we gave No. 2 a generous ration and heaved the rest into the waters of the Vippacco.

No. 2 went on firing ceaselessly.  So did one gun of the Battery in the village, and one gun at Rupa.  That Battery, being the furthest forward, was in the greatest danger of the three.  About 7 o’clock our first tractor arrived and took away No. 1 gun with Winterton and Manzoni.  Enemy bombing planes came over frequently.  One came right over us and then turned down the Vallone, and there was a series of heavy explosions, and great clouds of brownish smoke leapt up beneath her track.