A Third Snapshot of Trench Life

Sunday 12th September 1915: Captain Meautys of the 7th Battalion has just given us his morning tactical report. At 9.45 last night the sound of heavy German transport was heard on the road from Contalmaison to Fricourt. Our guns were informed.

At around the same time the sound of a train was heard, as usual, behind Fricourt. Patrols were sent out in front of the Battalion’s trenches and on right and left but returned having nothing to report. Under cover of darkness the Battalion mended the wire in front of its trenches.

A patrol at 6.45 this morning has just reported new posts of the enemy being made at the junction of two roads behind their front line. This was successfully bombed with rifle grenades much to the annoyance of the enemy who opened a hot fire without doing any damage. On our right enemy considerably quieter. This change suggests new regiment. Large explosion heard some distance on our right front between 3 & 3.30pm. Several rounds by big guns fired in same direction.

Source: X550/8/1