Survey 139-142-Trenches 76

September, 1915

Henry Bateman now with Engineers - stringing barb wire every night (Nov 1916 - now with Artillery - won military medal

Thurs 2 Thursday Germans shelled Trenches 139-142 while we were surveying - Cut Tres to pieces at end of "Nellie's Walk" 10 minutes after Baxter & I had been chaining there. One man of the 15th killed and three wounded Our artillery retaliate - Big bombardment toward Hooge with machine gun & rifle-fire started on us because out guns to the left were registering All enemy troops seen within the last 3 days have been in full marching order. Friday 3 Heavy enemy bombardment to SW. of Messines 6-9 pm 121-127 Enemy working party on right of crater (121) dispersed by hand grenades - Enemy replied with rifle grenades Sniping lively 128-134 Green flare observed - enemy working party to left of flare stopped 16th go into trenches Wet miserable night, Trenches knee-deep in mud.