Church in morning. Quiet all day till 9, when I went up to trenches on digging fatigue. Got to bed about 2:30 and jolly glad to lie in on Monday morning.
Up late, and spent day getting ready for our trip to trenches. Left barracks at 6:45 and carried out relief at 9 P. M. Very busy night. Continual deliberate fire and, oh, how it rained! No cover whatever and we’ve got this for five days. Ye Gods!
Rained on and off whole day. Impossible to sleep owing to rain and shells. Feel very despondent and miserable, but long time to go yet so must stick it. Another busy night and more rain. Am now properly soaked, so it does not matter if it pours all the time.
Weather slightly better, but still plenty of rain on and off. Artillery active, otherwise day fairly quiet. Periscope very useful indeed. Night very busy indeed, continued rifle and artillery fire. Several narrow escapes whilst searching German lines. Twice covered with sand from shots in bags to my right and left.
Thank goodness! decided improvement in weather. One or two hail showers but not much rain. Wind very cold, and, by jove! it’s hard to sleep. Quiet day but another busy night. Spoiled so far as I am concerned by violent toothache; must see a dentist after this spell, without fail.
No sleep all day owing to toothache. Hard luck as day comparatively quiet--very little shell fire from either side. Night again very busy but glad of the work as helps me to forget the pain.
Relief coming to-night and arn’t I glad. Slept a couple of hours in morning and again in afternoon. Artillery busy once more. Bedfords turned up, 11:30, so we got away about 12; reached camp 1:30. Had a cup of tea and asleep at once. Another spell got through and so far not touched. Thank Heaven for my luck!
Woke at 2 P. M. Had a wash and shave and feel fine once more. Spent evening writing letters and going to make most of rest.
Paraded sick and doctor gives me pills for toothache. What a fool! Shall keep at him till he sends me to a dentist. Visited by a Zeppelin during night. Dropped six bombs, nearest two hundred yards from camp. Enormous holes but no damage. Our luck in again!
Received more pills from doctor. Nearly called him a fool. Had a lazy afternoon, and no sign of Zeppelins.