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- running at times through chalk, hut mostly through dark loam. On a dark night it is impossible to see the trench mats at your feet, and as you may imagine such a thing as showing a light isn’t to he thought of. So it is simply a oase of having to,shuffle your feet along, using them as feelers to locate the broken slats in the trench mats. Then it’s a case of warning the fellow at the rear of the hole, in my case the following monologue being typical.
"Holy mackinaw, but it’s dark tonight,, wish he’d send up a couple of star shells and shed a little light on the subject. Oh well, , not much farther. Easy, Let, bad stretch here, you know.
Past that one? Another right in the centre of the mat. Easy now. Eor the Love of Mike, go easy. How for this damned bay. Whoa/
Give us a lift Jack, will you? I’m down that blasted hole again. Hit it every time. Thanks. Swing around a bit will you, Let. I can't quite make this turn* Kow ahead a little. All right? Easy now, this is a slippery turn right here, you know. Son of a gun, she's caved in a bit here. Guess will have to shoulder it over. Give Let a hand will you Jook? Got it Jack? All right, Hup!
Easy,,let it come around gradually. Good enough. All right. Let down with it, and have a rest. Phew’ Hope they fix that corner before we have to come out again". And so on till the case is handed over to the dressing station. After which we hie our way back for another one if necessary,
Xmas morning
And such a morning. Reveille at 6,30 as usual, but didn’t leave my downy couch until half an hour later, I could hear the rain pouring down on the roof of the hut in a regular torrent.
One glance at the sly was enough. I could see that one "helluva" day was in prospect for us i.e. as far as weather conditions were concerned. It is now 8.45 A.M. and in addition to the rain, the wind is fast approaching the dimensions of a, gale, which bids . fair to"outgale" the one we had the day we were relieved up the line. And that was some gale. Reminded me of the ones that Victoria is favored with every so often during the winter and early spiing.
I'M on the ration wagon for a couple of days, but we drew double rations yesterday so I am practically a free agent today.
It will give me a chance to drop a few letters that are needed in my business.
Well my hunch was correct. The boys sure had one hilarious time around these diggings last night, I played it safe by hopping into bed when the first contingent arrived, after the estamenets were closed, for I know the bunch and their "playful" pranks fairly well by now. I don't know how many beds were wrecked’ during the night, but it sure looked as if a cyclone had been on the job when I woke up this morning. Oh well, I guess they are paying for it now, judging from the lookB of quite a few of them this morning.
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