Walked within 7 yds of enemy sentry without seeing him

9th November [1916] Thursday

Rain still coming down. Took CSM Kenyon, Pte Watson and my servant Pte Wood in the mist and rain towards Goldie. Kept in the gullies and escaped notice till we reached Goldie 3. Examined Goldie 2 and could find nobody on it so I went forward myself leaving the others to cover me. Walked within 7 yds of enemy sentry without seeing him and signaled to CSM to join me. The men did not come over on my signal and I went back to get them. Looked round after about 50 yards and saw the CSM running for dear life down the hill and ten or eleven Bulgars on the top 30 yds above him. More came up and lay down to fire so we cleared out luckily getting away scot free, though they were so close.
However I did what was needed – namely to find out if the hill was occupied – and it b-dy well was! Of course the beastly mist covered me the whole way there all the way, made me nearly walk over the sentry, and then lifted when we had to retire. Very exciting. The day patrol of the Wilts who tried to do it some time ago was caught and two officers shot dead. Dry and pleasant night – moon bright and pleasant.