Fine morning, sharp frost. Fritz again busy with his Artillery & aircraft, we retaliate & in the afternoon 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm an organised bombardment and M. Gun [machine gun] on his front line and supports. Hun retaliation weak. Quiet night. French plane brought down by A.A. fire, pilot & observer killed.
Fine morning, very hard frost, we examine hole made by bombs, very small, ground very hard, huts pierced in a good many places. We clean up & have an easy day. Aircraft alarm again about 8.30 pm, 4 more bombs dropped but some distance away, but very disturbing, not much sleep again.
Fine morning. Church parade 9.30 am. H.C. 10.0 am. Our Xmas Day, but not much different to any other day. Footer in afternoon. Fritz sends some big shells over about 4.0 pm but not near our camp. Hostile aircraft again active in the afternoon. Wet night. Bad nights sleep, sick & coughing. Very bad.
Nasty morning, fine later, plenty of air activity. Footer match in afternoon A & B teams. Good game B team win 4-3. Corps Comdr [Commander] & Div. Cmdr visit camp about 11.45 pm & look round huts etc. Quite satisfied with visit & no complaints. Hostile aircraft over at night. Heavy shelling.
Wet morning fine later. Awful mess to get our dug out passable, about a foot of mud & water in it, but we make it fairly decent. Heavy strafe in the afternoon. We get relieved by the 2nd Lincolns at night. Hd Qrs arrive about 6.0 pm relief complete about 8.0 pm. We march to MAUREPAS & then get lorries to Camp 111 on BRAY-ALBERT Road. Arrive home about 11.0 pm very tired & dirty.
Damp wet morning. Fritz is quiet. We prepare to go into the trenches, feet rubbing etc. We leave for the trenches at 3.0pm. On the way up I see Lt.Col. HOARE, 17th Welch Reg. Quite a surprise. We arrive at Hd Qrs on the main BAPAUME – PERONNE Road about 6.0pm, relief complete about 9.0pm. No casualties.
Fine morning, slight frost. Fritz gives us a reminder at 9.0 am & keeps it up, but does no damage. A large shell of 9” armour piercing fell in our camp, but after a big bounce, did not explode, luckily for us.
Fine morning, cold, some showers later. Fine evening. Fritz sends a greeting, some shells, no damage to us. Heavy rain during night.
Bttn occupy front line & prepare for attack at 11.30 am. Fine morning but heavy mist. Attack cancelled until later. Zero time 2.30 pm. Weather clears a bit & Bttn attack, do very well capture strongpoint, no prisoners 106 casualties. CSM ANTLEY missing, CSM KYTE (?) & FRANKTON wounded. We hold ground & consolidate. Capts IRVINE & WATERS wounded, Lts LEWIS, CHEYNEY, DUDDELL & OGDEN wounded. Lt COX missing.
Very Heavy Bombardment. Attack started 7.20am. Beaumont Hamel blown up by mine. Sec.R Dub F, RIF,RWR. Attack well carried out, but Div on our right 29th held up. Div on left take Serre, but all forced to return to original line on account of 29th Div. Heavy shelling all day, bomb fighting etc, several German prisoners brought in from 121st Bav. Casualties slight. Day fine, but too hazy for aircraft early morning.