We made our way first to the Cathedral, which has suffered terribly.

TCD MS 10821 folio 13 recto

TCD MS 10821 folio 13 recto

[June 17th 1916] morning. They were especially busy at firing at aeroplanes, for as the weather has become finer, so they have become more active in reconnoitring. In the afternoon Warner & I took a walk round the town. We made our way first to the Cathedral, which has suffered terribly. Except for one arch the whole of the roof was gone & all one wing had fallen. The big museum close by had been also destroyed & the aspect of these ruined buildings was very forlorn. We then went on to the picturesque squares surrounded by most delightful old fashioned buildings. There were arcades all round the squares & one or two shops were still open. The inhabitants had remained there throughout the bombardments – poor souls, they said that it did not matter if they were killed, so they might just as well remain in their homes. Of the beautiful 16th Century Hotel de Ville & its great belfry scarcely any thing remains & all the houses in the neighbourhood were completely wrecked. The Boche still puts shrapnel over the square every day in hopes of catching a few people. After dark we carried on with our secret work & got back again soon after two o’clock. Everything went smoothly. Very little shelling or rifle fire. I was amused at the A.S.C. officer who came up with the accessories who asked ‘what all the funny lights were?’ It was evi(dent)