While here our rations ran short; our prisoners numbered over 20,000 and the policy of the British Government being to treat a prisoner as well, if not better, than her own soldiers (their wants are always attended to first), we were practically without food, and were compelled to resort to the heroic method of taking the rations from the bodies of our poor comrades who were lying cold on the ground and who would need them no more.

Three-quarters of a mile north of Labazell we were in our gun pit one night and “Ammunition up!” was the order.  This meant that everybody, including officers and down to cook, the telephonist on duty alone being excepted, had to get out and help unload the life-saving material.  I remember thinking of the anomaly at the time,—­how strange it was that we should regard the ammunition as life saving, when it was in reality so destructive of life.  While working like Turks unloading the shells, some of the drivers were talking about a strange sight they had seen down the road near Albert (pronounced Albare), when loading up at the ammunition dump.  They told us that huge contraptions covered with tarpaulin were lying on the side of the road, with six-pounder guns protruding from their sides; in conversation the drivers referred to them as land boats, and some, as land dreadnaughts.  Speculation ran rife as to their purpose.  We were soon to see.  Next morning as dawn was breaking, “Stand to!” rang out.  Waiting in our gun pits for the next command, I heard the sound of an engine put-put-ing along the road, something akin to that of a machine gun, but yet different.

I looked in the direction of the sound and presently there hove in sight a colossal something of behemoth proportions;—­something the like of which I had never seen or heard of in all my life, and I was stricken dumb with amazement.  A monstrous monstrosity climbed its way without let or hindrance, up, over, along and across every obstacle in its path.  Presently it reached the top of Pozieres Ridge; every man who could see had his eyes glued on it.  It came down the ridge at about five miles an hour with two small guns peering out of each side.  It was the first tank!  We all thought at first it was an armored car of some kind.  Then it swung off the road, crossing a ditch 8 feet wide and 17 deep and when we saw it perform this stunt our faculties were for the moment spellbound, and then we burst into uncontrollable cheering.

From all quarters of the valley soldiers were running to see the absurdly strange sight; it was as if a general fire alarm had been sounded, with everybody hastening to the scene of the conflagration.  Passing close by our battery, it paused for a while, and I had the opportunity of giving it the once-over, and then it waddled on its way again.  In a few minutes two companion land boats made their debut amongst us; up they went over the ridge, rolling down the German barbed-wire entanglement as if it were so much thread and forcing huge gaps for the Infantry to pass through, continuing their way placidly on through the trenches of the Hun, flattening scores of German soldiers under their bulk who were too awe-stricken to move.