Diary Entry - 18th April, 1917

Walford: Wednesday. Woke up to the drip of water near my head and on looking out saw it was snowing and thawing as it fell. Well, there was only one alternative and that was to get up out of it before I was flooded out, and this I did. It was very cold standing about outside waiting for the others to get up and was rather amused while hanging about to see Thorburn  take a parade in which the men had to be rooted out of their shelters and I pitied them as it was indeed no day for parading at nine a.m. The cook and servants turned out a breakfast from the mud somewhere, which was much appreciated by all but Bailly, who, in his selfish way, had some grouse. It was unanimously decided that we should start on a hole behind the guns to be a combined mess, so Siggers, Ball, Bee and I started on it, calling in the servants when they had settled their kit up. By dusk we had completed a hole 27 feet by 12 by 5 deep, covering it over with iron and bivouac sheets, using three limber poles to support them. This was a great improvement to the trench and we slept there for the night but continued messing at the old place until the cook house was ready.

Bee: This morning Walrond and I went out looking for an advance position. We started about eight a.m. The ground ahead has been pretty badly shelled. We first of all found four likely positions, about 500 yards ahead of here but too difficult to get the guns into. So we went on to the village of Baillieu, another 600 yards on. It has been well shelled but seems fairly liveable. At this end we found a position and three dugouts. The road down shows signs of the Huns' great hurry. There are a good many wagons and conveyances left on the road and they have evidently had a close call as the traces have been cut. My section are to do a horse artillery stint, when the show comes off. So we went on further, to within 500 yards of the front line and had a look at the ground, which is in good order. The Hun was very good and hardly troubled us. The Hun was a bigger fool than I thought when he let us drive him out of here where everything is in his favour. Tonight I am taking down some ammunition wagons at three a.m.