TCD MS 10822 folio 18 recto
[April 23rd 1917] football. On the 23rd marched to Berles Aux Bois. It was only about nine miles. The village had been nearly destroyed by shell fire but there were a few houses remaining and in to these we went. We were told that we should be here for a week. Sir D. Haig passed through in the evening, and stopped and spoke to some of the N.C.O.’s. Some wild daffodils in the orchards the first signs of spring.
April 24th. We were woken at 4.30a.m. with orders to move at 6 a.m. so we had a very hurried breakfast: further orders changed the time to 7.30 a.m. It was luckily a fine frosty morning. We crossed our old line trenches and the German trenches near Ransart, then marched throu Blaireville to Ficheux, where we bivouacked in a field near a cage of German prisoners. Some tents arrived in the evening and we spent the night there. The situation in front had calmed down and the German counter attacks repulsed, so that we were not required.
April 25th. A quiet but cold morning. In the afternoon marched to Mercatel where we stopped. We made some shelter by the roadside where we spent the night. Both Ficheux and Mercatel were once villages, but now are only topographical expressions. Not one stone remains standing upon another and every fruit tree or tree by the roadside has been cut down in wanton destruction by the Boche.
April 26th. Handed over command to Laye, as I am to remain out this time and he is to go in. So for a few days I shall have nothing to do. Rode into Ronville to the transport and then into Arras where Fuge found St. Aubyn and myself a comfortable billet. In the afternoon we wandered all round Blangy, looking at our old lines and the German ones. A shell blew up a huge dump of ours at St. Laurent. Explosions were going on all the afternoon and night. It was a very fine sight.
April 30th. A quiet time in Arras. The Battalion was in reserve and has at present nothing to do. No casualties till the 29th when a bomb explosion killed and wounded twelve. Relieved the 9th R.B. in the front line night 28th-29th.
May 3rd. Delightful spring weather. The Battalion was in support during the big attack this morning. The two 8th Battalions attacked and were very successful at first, but were counter attacked and driven back to