Rode on m/c behind COs carrier, reached Herouvillette without any trouble. Then moved on to plain after a few hours stay at aforementioned. Saw some terrible sights but too busy handling bike to think about them fortunately. On evening of day arrived on plain moved further forward, quite a night. Still on M/C & wishing now I was on foot. Shelled bombed and sniped at all the way, had to fetch stragglers up another eerie ride through village & orchard wondering where next shell or bomb would drop & if sniper would fire in direction of sound of my engine. Last trip up took ATK guns & carriers when crossing open field sniper opened up, fortunately nobody hit. Arrived at Bn HQ feeling dog tired, improved slit trench. Walk in & got down to sleep.

Next morning liased with Jo, nothing out of the ordinary. Mortared rest of day spasmodically during evening MG bullets flying across area. Given order to "stand to" early expected being attacked, sorted souvenirs & papers out ready to burn or bury in case we were overrun. Situation eased & settled down for night.

Next day followed on M/C behind COs carrier in moved forward, only demonstration, but worse than in actual attack. Took up posn in sunken road with bullets flying over top and sobbing sisters dropping around & to crown everything one arty opened up on us. Boy what a barrage. I don’t envy Jerry. Fortunately shells dropped in fields each side of road, pieces of shrapnel came very near but not near enough. Finally had to move back to old posn to lick our wounds. Later in day again liased with Jo, must have been spotted, mortared all the way along track, one dropped too near for comfort. I fortunately dived in time getting off with only a cut in hand.

Next day eased gently forward in pouring rain into orchard of day before without any trouble. Soaked to the skin literally, in half an hour but had to dig slit trench with Wally. Had got down about 3 ft 6 in when the fun started. They started pounding us with everything they had, mortars, sobbing sisters, guns and MGs. The worst experience of my life up to press. Kneeling in pool of water, soaked to the skin, frozen to the point of shivering, wondering if my turn was next for two hours. Constantly hearing the cry "Stretcher bearer" during lulls, seeing jeeps & carriers taking wounded back & shell shock cases making their own way back, some quiet & dazed, others hysterical.

During one lull found a piece of bone & flesh stuck into side of trench, against my head & piece of flesh stuck to my pack. Found out afterwards Alf’s & Maxie’s trench, which was about ten yards from my own, had received a direct hit, so bone etc must have been from one of them. Did not go see them as I was in too low state of mind to stand the sight, which I was told was pretty messy, particularly as they were my own pals.

Still more trouble to come, when Hector heard about Alf he went down with shock. He had helped Alf to dig trench but did not go into it when fun started. All he would say was "I helped him dig that trench." Did my bit to bring him round, talking to him and slapping his face but he was too far gone, had to send him back on carrier.

Still wet through, cold and depressed. Got the fellows making some char, thought it best to keep their minds occupied. Had Wally & Roy extend & improve our trench as Roy had been with Hector & asked if he could move in with us. Fatal for your nerves to be alone in trench during shelling unless your nerves are very strong, particularly after what we had gone through. Still raining but had a mug of char between five of us, it made a big improvement. Spent that night shivering & trying to sleep in trench which was soaked & trying to get Alf of my mind.

Next day weather cleared a little but had more rain. Still wet & cold sitting in trench wondering if we should get any more shelling, fortunately only a few odd ones. Later in day able to cook first meal for about 30 hrs felt a little better after it. Spent that night in MH doing enlargement. Snatched a couple of hours sleep, clothes drying on me.