TCD MS 10853 folio 86 recto
[1915]
of their “strays” brought down some of our men. Ben and I found that by tieing sandbags with straw in round our legs we kept our feet fairly warm and when we were not “up” we would stand by a red coke fire in the next traverse and get warm. In the day time we were numbered 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, So if I were number 1 I would have 5 hours off before I was on duty again. But in these 5 hours we were working in the trench filling sand bags or making butresses with them, so there was practically no chance of sleep. This then, was our manner of life on March 22 and 23. On this latter day we were relieved by A Company. Our casualties were, 2 killed and 3 wounded. Among the killed was Mountford one of the Blackpool Boys in 8 Platoon who was standing near Bob when