Diary Entry - 23rd October, 1916

Walford: Relieved by Cruikshank at ten a.m and hear that Siggers has been appointed intelligence officer for the brigade and has to go over with the infantry. Good luck to him. In the afternoon, Siggers and I had a tour of the big uns, first of all visiting 15-inch howitzer - she is called granny and was firing when we arrived. She is not a big piece, but the shells are huge and stand about 3.6 height, weighing 11 cwt. What sort of a splash it makes on landing, I shudder to think. The 12-inch howitzer was our next stop. It is a nice looking piece and a much solider looking weapon. The shell it fires is large too, it weighs 7 cwt. We passed numerous 9.2 and 6-inch hows between the two large ones. The former having an enormous dump of ammunition at their guns. We also had a squint at the 6-inch Mark VII, which was firing as we passed. The officers of the 12-inch were very hospitable, showed us all over the gun then gave us a drink at the Mess, which was on the side of a railway embankment.

In the evening the captain on returning from brigade informed me I had been awarded the Military Cross.

Bee: Went up to the guns this morning, a very foggy morning but much warmer and the fog lifted for an hour about two p.m. But got very little shooting done. The Hun aeroplanes were fairly active during this time. The show was put off again. I don't think it will ever take place. And am certain that we always let the Hun know long beforehand that we intend to make a push by the artillery all shooting like fun a week beforehand.