31/7/16
Another stifling hot day. It simply gets hotter each day.
On duty 8.30 am until 1 pm also on fatigues at 2 pm together with three others. Our work was to load a lorry with heavy logs of wood, and afterwards to distribute same to a number of places for cooking purposes.
It was extremely hard work and was heartily thankful when our task was completed.
Had a bath in the stream, which runs by the bottom of our billets garden, directly afterwards which was most refreshing.
After tea spent the evening at my usual place at Pont-Noyelle, where I had a supper of fried eggs etc.
Received a parcel from my wife, which contained lots of useful and welcome gifts including, box of cigarettes, box of Crompton hospital lozenges, packet of Three Nuns tobacco, copying pencil with holder, large cake, tube of lemonade tablets, my old Cavalry haversack and belt of Egyptian and Gallipoli memory. Good mascots both of them.
Went on duty at 9 pm, but at 12.30 am was told to take up a split duty, so left work and returned to billet.
1/8/16
On duty at 10 am. Have had my hair cropped very short on account of the heat, which is still most depressing.
Now that our offensive which commenced on the 1st July is exactly a month old. It would be interesting perhaps to make a few observations upon the work achieved, the objects gained and our present position.
On the 2nd July it was even then plain enough to me that things were not going so successfully as they should and it became more and more evident, first that the work in hand, was more than we could cope with, which situation was brought about in great measure I believe by a very skilful reorganisation of the German line, which was quickly strengthened and well backed up by their artillery.
The objects achieved are in my opinion decidedly nil, granted that it was never anticipated that we should attempt a general advance, still at the same time I believe that if our object was to draw a large enemy army to this front, that it has failed ignominiously.
The Germans are undoubtedly great masters in the art of war, but did they not attempt exactly the same methods in the battle for Verdun, with apparently a similar object in view.
They presumed no doubt that to attack France at her strongest point, which was of course at once her weakest too from a tactile point of view, by an overwhelming superiority of artillery would induce the French to gather together large forces of troops into a small area, whereby they may be reasonably expected to be able to inflict large and serious losses to our allies, and at the same time break the back-bone of any determined offensive by them elsewhere.
Perhaps to a certain extent Germany succeeded in this new departure in war, as there seems to be little doubt that our comrades suffered very heavily.
One very important factor however the Germans appeared to have entirely overlooked. The battle of Verdun was not to be fought between artillery on the one side and by men only on the other side. The French were also able to bring to bear a similar weight of metal, thereby neutralising the position. to imagine that because we have accumulated massive guns etc. in great numbers is going to carry us through is a terrible and unpardonable miscalculation for as I have pointed out the situation merely becomes neutralised.
To sum up I maintain that our position up to the present stands at "work done", fairly good, "objects attained" practically nil, " present situation" neutral. I am moreover quite unable to understand why an offensive on this front was ever attempted.
I am quite sure the Germans are confident that they can hold their lines and that they have also completed adequate arrangements to meet all eventualities. Personally I am inclined to consider their point of view as being the correct one.
I am moreover strongly in favour of evacuating France altogether, that is to say merely hold strong points, and to strike hard and suddenly elsewhere, where I could mention, and where they are least prepared to defend themselves.
I am conscious however that my country is being sold. It is being quickly devoured not by open enemies, but by the wretched traitors within our gates and by the host of hopeless amateurs whom they employ.
I am still persevering with my French. It is however a hard enough nut to crack. There are so many difficulties to surmount not the least of which is the provincial dialect or as it is called "Patois". In our province of Picardy this "Patois" is noticeably very strong.
On duty 7 pm until 11 pm.
I heard that a certain woman at Pont-Noyelle has been caught by the French and English military police serving the troops with whisky, Benadicitine and other strong drinks. This practice is forbidden and defaulters are very severely dealt with, and made to pay a fine of anything up to 1000 Francs.
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