“At 2.30 this morning I retired to rest—­in my clothes of course; we do not undress in the trenches.  At 5.40 I rose and took on officer of the watch until breakfast at 8.45, when I was relieved by Sergeant-Major Stanton.  It was raining, so I wore my trench-coat.  After breakfast I retired to rest again.  But at 10.15 I noticed something happen:  our guns, of which we have heard so little during this week in the trenches, began to bombard the enemy lines.  Not an intense bombardment, but a continuous and systematic bombardment; they have been at it all day with the exception of a pause for about an hour in the middle of the day.  The German guns have been quiet all day since they ceased at 2.15 this morning.  There is always a calm after a storm.  It is fine again now.  Well—­cheerio!...”

My diary of the same date (July 8) carries on: 

“Germans started shelling us at 7.45 p.m.  Dinner.  Sleep from 10 to 11.30.  Then I went into Company Headquarters to be ready for chits, as all the other officers were away somewhere.  The dug-out was shelled while I was in there; the candle was blown out once.  The shells were landing pretty close.

“July 9th.

“Sleep 1 a.m. to 4.30.  Officer of the watch from 4.30 to 8.  Then breakfast.  Sleep, or tried to, in the morning.  The Germans were shelling Bilge Trench the whole time.  Lunch at 1.30.  Got down again after tea.  Then, at 6 p.m., I left Bilge Trench with my batman Critchley and proceeded to Potijze to rejoin B Company, as D Company’s tour in the front line is now concluded.”  Thus ended the memorable stay in Bilge Trench.

FOOTNOTE: 

[4] See Appendix II.

CHAPTER X

THE RAMPARTS

My diary of July 9 tells how we once again got back to the cosy dug-outs in the Ramparts, those ramparts from whence was continually stretched out before our ken, in sunshine and in moonlight, the heart of the dead city.

When I arrived at Potijze “Allen had gone to the Ramparts to take over, as B Company proceeds there to-night.  D Company are going to Goldfish Chateau, the other side of Ypres.  I had dinner at Potijze.  Things were quite peaceful at that time; we stood outside after dinner and admired the view in the Salient.  Just a few shells were flying over.  At 11 p.m.  Captain Andrews, Dickinson and I, with Sergeant-Major Preston and a few runners, left Potijze and returned to the dug-outs in the Ramparts.  There is more room to move about here!”

My first letter home after my return to the Ramparts—­dated July 10—­runs as follows: