TCD MS 10821 folio 16 recto
[June 20th 1916] almost the size of rabbits & very tame. One ran over me while I was asleep last night.
June 21st. During the night we had several working parties out, some mending wire & others cutting grass which is very long now in front between the lines. The Boche also had several parties out cutting grass & mending wire, so that neither side liked to fire for fear of hitting their own men. The result was that we had a very quiet night. Ferard went out on a patrol along the enemy’s wire to inspect their work & brought back a good report. We stood to arms for 2.45 am to 4.45 am & had one man hit by a sniper, who later on broke all the periscopes put up on that part of the trench. He must be an exceptionally good shot as the target is only 2½” by 1½”. The morning & afternoon were very quiet & uneventful. At night we had patrols out in front of the line & parties mending barbed wire. The Boche fired some Machine Guns at them but without effect.
June 22nd. A very quiet & peaceful night with but little firing. The first fine & hot day. The morning was very quiet & peaceful, but in the afternoon the big minnenwerfer got to work & fired a good many shells, which burst not very far away, making an appalling row. Finn bombs, small mortars, 77mm & 5.9 guns were busy firing at us