TCD MS 10822 folio 39 recto
[Sept 20th 1917] place this morning and the first accounts seem quite good. It was done on a large scale now that Gough has no longer charge of operations and so was successful. Gough frittered away eleven divisions, practically without gaining any success, while with a big attack on one day a large extent of important ground has been secured. The usual training was carried out morning and afternoon.
Sept 21st. It seems to have set in for a spell of fine weather. Heavy mists in the early morning, but after they clear off, bright sunshine follows. In the evening some Boche aeroplanes came overhead. All the guns fired at them and fragments of shells came down all over the camp. One nose cap came through the roof of the Mess, and went through a case of whiskey which had been used as a seat, smashing 2 bottles of whiskey to powder.
Sept 22nd. Nearly all the Battalion is out on working parties so that there is very little for me to do. During a football Match in the afternoon Boche aeroplane came over and heavily fired at. A “dud Archie” landed in the field close to the goal. It luckily did not explode, and on the ball going behind, the goal kicked off from the hole where it fell. We had a good Concert in the evening.
Sept 23rd. Sunday. We had Church Parade in the Camp in the morning, which was rather disturbed by German aeroplanes flying overhead and more attention was paid to them than to the sermon. We played the 7th Bt at football in the afternoon and beat them. In the evening we had another Concert. The Shropshires were very unlucky to-day, a “dud Archie” shell landed on their signallers’ hut and exploded inside killing and wounding fourteen signallers.
Sept 24th. Have been given leave to England. A car arrived at 10 a.m. and we motored to Boulogne arriving there are 1 p..m just in time to catch the boat. My warrant was dated the 25th, so I was very lucky to get across. We had a beautiful crossing, but the ship was very crowded.