We were in support trenches near Havrincourt Wood in September 1917. At
mid-day it was exceptionally quiet there as a rule.
Titch, our little Cockney cook, proceeded one day to make us some tea
by the aid of four candles in a funk-hole. To aid this fire he added
the usual bit of oily "waste," and thereby caused a thin trail of smoke
to rise. The water was just on the boil when Jerry spotted our smoke
and let fly in its direction everything he had handy.
Our trench was battered flat.... We threw ourselves into a couple of
old communication trenches. Looking around presently for our cook
we found him sitting beneath a waterproof sheet calmly enjoying his
sergeant-major's tea. "Ain't none of you blokes firsty?" was his
greeting.--_R. J. Richards (late 61st Trench Mortar Battery, 20th
London Division), 15 London Street, W.2._