t I was told to
reconnoitre the trenches we were to occupy that evening; we came upon
a French woman of the rich farmer class who had just had her servant
killed, and herself and baby wounded by a German shell. Then we went
on to the trenches, leaving the General behind, and taking a staff
officer instead. I found that my Brigadier had arranged that I was to
take over the front of something over two regiments. There were plenty
of shells bursting around me, including five in the next house and
lots of rifle fire. Well, by the evening I had gathered all the
information I wanted to know, so went back in my motor. Meanwhile the
Brigadier sent word that we were to go to the town of----. It was
perfectly dark there on our arrival, and after proceeding with great
care on account of the shell-holes in the streets I came to the only
lighted place there was, which turned out to be a General's
headquarters. Here I was allowed to sit by the fire for a few minutes
to dry myself, after which I went off in the dark and rain to arrange
billets for the Bn. Of course this is not really my business, but
everything was so huggermugger that I thought I should get matters
along that way. Arriving at 1 a.m., I put the men into deserted French
houses. The inhabitants had fled, so I was informed by a French
officer at the General's Headquarters, because the Germans had asked
for 50,000 francs for an indemnity, and it was not paid in the given
time. They, so he said, shot the mayor and an old man of 80 years and
another; so if that is true the people just panicked! We were very
comfortable barring sleeping on the floor and having to get up at 5
a.m. on a Sunday, and in snowy weather too! Well, that day I received
the order to move, and finally got into our trenches at four-thirty
last night in downpours of rain. As we approached these, a heavy fight
was in progress, and we came under fire of the spent bullets. One of
my very good boxers, poor chap! was hit in the jaw and died at once. I
suppose it dislocated the spine. Then the Germans threw star shell on
us, and turned a searchlight upon us as well, so altogether made
themselves very unpleasant, whilst our own shells burst short just
above our heads as we stood on the road. In the dark I sorted everyone
out, had a confab. with the two C.Os., and then sent my troops off
under officers as guides to their trenches. I need hardly tell you
that I hated the whole thing horribly, but one never shows i