Friday 14th June 1918
The 1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment, is currently in the support line near Steenbecque. The fact that they are in support rather than in the front line has not helped them avoid casualties, however. Yesterday they endured frequent hostile shelling in which eleven other ranks were wounded. Today they have had more of the same and the men have been engaged in trying to strengthen their positions and to repair damage wrought by the shells.
Things have been comparatively quiet since the last German offensive ended and this shelling has given birth to rumours that another spasm of enemy activity is in the offing. During this quiet period the allies have been building up their strength as the British, Belgians and French train and reorganise and the newly-arrived Americans acclimatise to this war. No doubt a great combined allied offensive is being planned as we speak. A new German offensive might disrupt this planning but many of the officers to whom I have spoken have been sanguine, stating that if Fritz attacks he will find a very different set of circumstances to last March - better defences, good organisation and men who are grimly determined to give no more ground. They fully expect to give any assault a very bloody nose indeed.
Source: X550/2/5
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