The day was marred by the tragic death of our new Platoon Sergeant,

TCD MS 10853 folio 97 recto

TCD MS 10853 folio 97 recto

played on it first and then I did and he was very interested in Tipperary and others of the Marching Songs.
Left for the trenches at night. Joe Donnan was now our platoon Sergeant, he was a very good shot, but no good as an officer. Ben and I occupied our usual place in 39 trench. The first day in was marred by the tragic death of our new Platoon Sergeant, who was shot through the head whilst firing over the parapet in the next traverse to where Ben and I were. We’d been talking to him only a minute before and we got quite a shock when he fell at our feet.
Nothing further happened during this spell in the trenches, the weather was fine and the nights frosty.
March 31st. Left the trenches at night and marched through Ypres. When we were through the town we met a Red Cross