Diary Entry - 11th December, 1915

A day off duty and nothing much doing. In the morning, the Colonel and General Sanders came along to look at the gun pits, as it is discovered that the guns in their present position can only just fire onto our front-line trenches at their lowest range, as the crest of the hill won't allow any shorter range. There is some talk of moving one section to the rear, in order to be able to cover our trench, in case of a retirement. But Kellagher tries what he can do with his section in raising the platform and, after putting down two layers of pavé, finds he can clear the crest at 1900. However, he is not satisfied with that and finally takes off another 35 yards, thus saving the situation. In the afternoon, I take my new charger, named Peggy, for a detour to Béthune. She proved herself to be a spoiled animal and very lazy – once, I should methinks, she may have been quite good, but the drivers at the wagon line have spoiled her. Before going to bed, Suttie makes out some shoot, so at ten thirty I go to and sallie forth and fire Nos 2,3,5 ad 6 guns on the respective targets on the programme. After that is over, I prepare for the early morning rise.