May 27, 1918
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Last night whilst writing this diary I had reached the word “form” when the presence of enemy aircraft overhead made me put my light out and events were then so exciting that there was no lighting it again. For safety sake I lay down on my bed on the floor of the tent and listened to bombs being dropped in all directions, the whole neighbourhood receiving attention and incidentally I did not feel in the cheeriest mood after my late experience.
Then hearing one of the men call out “look at the incinerator blazing up” I went outside to see and sure enough it was making a splendid mark. It was so dangerous that I decided to go and put it out myself but had hardly started off (it was only 100 yards away) when I heard a plane approaching. “That settles it,” I said, “the damage is done” and turned off at right angles and started to run, but had only gone a few yards when I heard the swish and whistle of a falling bomb. Down I went to it altho’ in a line with his approach, and then bang, bang, bang, went three bombs one side of me, and bang on the other, only earth falling on me. Five were dropped in all, one being a dud.
Once again the Good God was looking after us, only one man was hit and he had his arm fractured. My tent was penetrated by several pieces and one bottle being broken, whilst some of the cars were hit, one radiator being put out of action. I was wild at the men responsible for the fire being left as undoubtedly that was his mark. Our latrines were shattered, but fortunately no one was there. I then proceeded to complete my job and put out the fire.
Everyone has the wind up to a certain extent as it’s becoming a habit now for us to be a mark. One of the bombs in particular was of a deadly variety as it burst on the surface making no hole, the flying fragments leaving marks on the ground like the spokes of a wheel.During the day great industry has been shown by the fellows deepening their dugouts and they are now spread all over the fields. Collected drugs to-day at Crouey and also went on to Longpres for some oxygen.
It was not a bad trip, roads being very quiet there being no large movements of troops on so apparently we are ready for the hun to start. His artillery is more active, also his planes, all pointing to an early resumption of the offensive.