TCD MS 10822 folio 8 recto
[Jan 22nd 1917] morning and interviewed candidates for Commissions. Walked round the keeps in the afternoon.
Jan 23. Very hard frost and froze all day. Inspected a draft of 19 men and in the afternoon walked over to Agny to see the 9th Bt. They were in the middle of a relief. Put up four mallard on the way and a large covey of partridge.
Jan 26th. Very cold weather. The whole time the jug of water in my room has remained frozen solid, day and night. The sun shines brightly and with plenty of exercise the cold has not been unbearable. The men were employed in carrying, & in working parties the whole time.
Jan 27th. Still bitterly cold but sunny. There is however a strong N. E. wind which is vile. To-day we relieve our 8th Bt in the line. They have not had a very quite time as the Boche have brought up some 90 lb trench mortars. Relief went off quite well and in the afternoon I went round the line. The going is very good as everything is frozen hard.
Jan 28th. A very cold night followed by a bright sunny day. Went round the trenches during the morning all very quiet there. In the afternoon walked over to de Calry to see him about the raid. Came back along the support line to see the damage done by Trench Mortars during the afternoon. It was not very serious however. My servant Thorpe is sick.
Jan 29th. Cold frosty weather and a quiet day and night.
Jan 30th. More firing than usual during the night and at 7 a.m. the Boche Trench Mortars opened fire and for about two hours there was much stuff flying about through the air. Most of it fell just to our left. We had no casualties. I went round later to see the damage and saw our heavy Trench Mortar firing. It is a colossal engine and the “flying pigs” could be followed all the way through the air. On hitting the ground they make a huge hole and the earth is shot up several hundred feet into the air. One poor fellow had both his feet blown off by a Vane bomb in the afternoon. Went round the trenches again at night. It was snowing slightly – everything was very quiet.
Jan 31st. Still cold and frosty. A very quiet day and night but about