Photostat copy of diaries of Benjamin Bennett Leane, 1915 - Part 23

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in Tommy's tunic, and he doesn't

like that. It fitted him splendidly

everywhere - except the stomach

and it wouldn't meet by inches

there. We have a new 

arrangement now as regards the watches.

Instead of one officer on duty for each

company we only have one xxx

two companys. It gives us more line

to supervise, but makes the work

much lighter. Instead of six hours

on and twelve off we now do four

on and sixteen off. And ten hours

less, especially in a night watch, is

something to be thankful for.

 

I can hear the motors of an

aeroplane buzzing away up in the

sky. Lucky beggar, I'd give

much to be up there with him.

 

I've got a digging party on

those improvements I told you about,

 

and although we are only doing

a little preliminary work just now

I hope to see my ideas carried out

in full before long.

Wednesday. Aug ^Sept 22^nd, 1915

Have been arranging for winter

huts today. Hope we are not here

 xxx occupy them all the same.

 

Received a letter from mother

(Aug 11^th) this morning, whe enclosing

one from you to her (Aug. 9^th). Dear 

old girl, I am glad you offered to

help her if she wanted you. I hope

she is better long ere this. I am

afraid she worries too much about

her boys. I wish the confounded

war would end. Later on I

received one from Aunt Agnes, written

from Cornwall.

 

Had a long yarn to Capt. Hamilton

tonight. He, like good old Heritage,

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is doggedly hanging on. He has

been ill for weeks past, and

can hardly walk the length

of our lines, but still he won't

give in. He is a fine man.

 

I have written to Heritage today

and enclosed the £2.10.0, as I

think he may possibly be short

of funds, as I know how difficult

it is to get money in hospital.

Thursday Aug ^Sept. 23^rd 1915

A quiet night and a quiet day.

These beautiful moonlight nights

are rather too bright for either side

to try any funny business.

 

Had porridge for breakfast this

morning, followed with some nice

rashers of bacon and dry toast.

Also I managed to get hold of a

couple tins of Nestle's milk. It goes

great with biscuits and jam.

 

Prices are hot though, milk 1/6 tin,

eggs (almost unprocurable) 3/- dozen;

milk chocolate (ordinary P bars)

4c each bar. Worse than Adelaide.

Friday 24^th. -Nothing doing all day.

We have another stunt tonight, so

that will break the monotony a

little.

Saturday 25^th Aug ^Sept. - The stunt was a

fair success. Between 7.45 and 8pm

we made a pretence of getting ready

to advance. It was bright moonlight

so our movements were fairly

visible from the opposition benches-

trenches, I mean. Bayonets were

fixed all along the line and

dummy figures looked over the

parapet occasionally, and there

was much subdued movement generally.

At 8pm. a flare burned on our

right and was answered by a

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star shell from the left. As though

that was some pre-arranged signal

the military instantly opened

with a bombardment of the Turks'

trenches. This lasted for about

ten minutes, during which the

enemy replied with their '75" and

shrapnel, as well as rifle fire

As soon as our guns ceased

firing whistles were blown, bayonets

flashed over the parapets and a

general scrambling noise with

jam tins etc, as though we

were advancing to the attack.

This drew a good burst of 

fire from the Turks which lasted

for about 15 minutes and then

gradually died away. A lot

of the shells burst fairly close

to our line, and of course

the flash of light and rush

 

of air caused by the explosives

made them appear to be closer

than they really were, so that

many of our latest reinforcements

thought they were in for a

bit of the real thing. I expect

I will read some hair raising stories when I come to

censor their letters tomorrow.

 

Another mail in today. So far

I have received two - one from 

mother (returned from England and

dated July 20_th) and one from 

Mrs Wood, of Manchester. It is not

all sorted yet, so I am hoping 

to get some more directly.

Sunday, Aug ^Sept 26^th. 1915

Saw Ted this afternoon. Also a

number of the 27^th Bn came through

the trenches today, among them

being Norman Cameron (a corporal)

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