There were 4 guns which fired 40 rounds in under half a minute

TCD MS 10821 folio 42 recto

TCD MS 10821 folio 42 recto

[August 5th 1916] monstration of the Stokes Gun of its power of forming a barrage, or searching a wood by exploding the shells in the air. There were 4 guns which fired 40 rounds in under half a minute & made a deafening row. There were only 4 casualties among the spectators  <including two officers>. After breakfast the general came round to make a speech to the Battalion as we are probably moving tomorrow & may be shot into the battle any day now. Ordinary work for the rest of the day.
August 6th. All our kits & the transport went off in the morning as they have a long way to go & we are to travel by train the following day. It being Sunday we had a Church service in an orchard near our billets in the morning. The weather still continues very hot. The men are getting very much fitter & better for their rest & steady exercise.
August 7th. Work as usual in the morning. In the afternoon we marched to Candas 1 ½ m. where we entrained. We were due to leave at 4pm but the train did not arrive till 7pm. We had tea on the platform & also some champagne which we found in anestaminet  close by. We were an enormous train, four engines were required to drag us along: the GRB, the General & various officers were on the train. We went through Amiens at