to a communication trench and the next instant
a shell burst. I did not know then that anybody had been hit by it,
but I learned afterwards that the officer, the stretcher-bearers and
the Germans had all been killed.

I made my way to a mud road, where to my infinite delight I saw large
numbers of German prisoners being marched back. By the corner of a
wood the 8th Battalion were waiting their turn to advance. To the left
was the hill called The Crow's Nest, which our 3rd Brigade had taken
that day. I crossed the Hendecourt-Dury road, which had trees on (p. 296)
both sides of it, and then meeting the 2nd Battalion went forward with
them. There were some deep trenches and dugouts on the way, which our
units at once appropriated and which became the headquarters of two of
our Brigades. Our artillery had also come up and their chaplain was with
them. The C.O. of the 7th Battalion was having breakfast in the corner of
a field, and feeling very happy over the result of the morning's work.
Far off we could see the wood of Cagnicourt, and beyond that in the
distance we could see other woods. I went off in the direction of
Cagnicourt and came to some German huts, where there was a collection
of military supplies. Among them was a large anti-tank rifle. As it
had begun to rain, I was very glad to find some German water proof
sheets which I put over my shoulders as I was eating my bully-beef.
Cagnicourt lay in a valley to the right and, when I got there, I found
a battery of artillery had just arrived and were taking up their
positions by a road which led on to Villers-Cagnicourt. We were all in
high spirits over our fresh achievement. In some dugouts on the way, I
found the headquarters of the 13th and 14th Battalions, and learned of
the very gallant deed of the Rev. E. E. Graham, the Methodist chaplain
attached to the 13th Battalion. He had carried out, under the barrage,
five wounded men of the 2nd Division, who had been left in No Man's
Land. He was recommended for the Victoria Cross, but unfortunately,
for some reason or other, only got the D.S.O. In a trench near
Villers-Cagnicourt I found the 4th Battalion, who told me that they
thought our advance was checked. I sat talking to them for some time,
but was so tired that I absolutely could not keep awake. The men were
much amused to see me falling asleep in the midst of a conversation. I
managed, however, to pull myself together, and went over to the main
Cherisy road, on