26 Sept Tues. About 10am. (zero hour being 12.30) Recd orders to fo b frontline to replace casualties. (Ben having moved to place of assembly in Courcelette the night before) Everett & Harper having been killed & many others - Dashed off abou ee with Wakou & Dagger & after v. exciting trip reached Bn Stqrs in Sunken Road Courcelette at noon - (This road was one of the hottest spots in France or Belgium) after a long wait, almost suffocated & still with cramp, was told to take over A. Co. from last officer there (17 dames) who was practically all in - I had to pass through the famous quarry wh. was a death trap from snipers & wq's in Daytime but did not reach hruch till 10 pm when J took over command & found many casualties and everyone too worn out to give useful information - only 3 Véry bi/h5 for flan pistol. Almost immediately sheel dropped on our only Lewis fun killing the whole crew & burying the few - bunch a wusses to Butt Q & tried to establish communication on left which was in the air - Beat off a German counter