I am pretty tired to-night, but I must write a line to let you know
that I am well and safe, and so are John and Erskine and all our
other Officers. We have all been through a big fight--the others
have been more in the centre of it than I have. Regiments near us
have suffered heavily, but we have been particularly fortunate. But
I must tell you about it to-morrow. I had an experience last night
between 9 and 11 p.m. that you can have no conception of. Our side
started an attack by the usual Artillery bombardment of the German
lines, followed by an Infantry advance.[3] This advance was not made
by our Battalion, who remained in the same line of trenches
throughout the fight.
[3] This was near La Cordonnierie.
Fighting continued all day, and got worse when night fell. It was my
duty as Brigade Transport Officer to get into touch with Brigade
Headquarters and make arrangements regarding the bringing up of
rations or whatever else was required.
I went along a road running parallel to the trench line, and I got
along it and back again alive because God was keeping me. There is
no other explanation possible, for cover there was none. Your
prayers had done it. It was dark, but a farm with its hay-stacks was
blazing on the left of this road, on the right were our own guns
shooting shell after shell over my head. The German guns were
answering, and round about me right, left, in front, behind their
shells were bursting with terrific noise, and rifle bullets were
coming across, now in front, now behind, now overhead, with that
whistle that we know so well.
Through it all I came untouched, and as I went and came again there
was given me a wonderful feeling of confidence that took away all
fear, and I knew that hands were being held up for me by my own.
It quietened down towards morning, and to-day it has been almost calm
and quiet. No ground has been gained by us and nothing lost, and we
are back to normal conditions, and very thankful it is over. I am
perfectly well, and so are the others.