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Givenchy - The "Duck's Bill"

Paraded for church. --- Jeder mag (nicht) erach seines Facon selig werden!

Feed of strawberries chez Mme Veuve Lecocq -- Essars-lez-Bethune - boy of 40 soldiering in the Midi

Drilling on machine gun again

Leave for trenches 6 pm - arrive by same communication trench & put in front line just to right of the "Ducks Bill" - Drizzling and raining all night - our old section of trench shelled that day & some dozen men killed - of the 7th Receive letter from Lorne Leach

Stand to 2-3 am - on guard 1 on & 3 off all day - at night 5 on & 2½ off -- At 2 pm Lce Corp. Lund - next sentry to me starts sniping - a fine built young Swede - stripped to the waist - most foolishly fires a dozen shots without pulling his rifle out of the loophole - a bomb thrower comes back to me - sits down & covers his face with his hands - was behind Lund, passing - one shot gets Lund in the forehead & blows the back of his head off - Bomb thrower so unnerved he can't pass

Get about 20 Jack Johnsons slung at us - hit to left & right & behind - No damage in the front line -- Receive letter from Ada 3 am, mail in with ration party

Quiet day - only occasional shelling - Relieved 7 pm by Grenadier Guards - officer Lord Dalkeith -- Tall gawky lad -- Guards cursing & grousing - make so much noise its a wonder the Germans didn't try shrapnel.

Get back to "Windy Corner" (Quinchy) at canal at dark -- Go to old billet at Essar-Lez-Bethune, receive many papers & photo of Ada & children

BC Archives, MS-0392 Box 1 Volume 4 / FRANK SWANNELL PAPERS / Diary and enclosures, 1915.