Report from the Front -The Great War diary of Jack Halstead

Getting guns ready. The old gunners remaining back for a rest. How we discussed our exploits of the previous fortnight. Everything was plain to us. How the 59th Division had been sacrificed. Well it had been so. The official report stated that we were out

Getting guns ready. The old gunners remaining back for a rest.

How we discussed our exploits of the previous fortnight. Everything was plain to us. How the 59th Division had been sacrificed. Well it had been so.

The official report stated that we were outnumbered by 20 guns to one. The attack had then been expected. We had made preparations with barb wire and reserve positions, but we had no support.

The attack came and it was greater than expected. No-one could hold against such great odds.

Even then there was no support. We fell back and the prepared positions were lost. The dumps of ammunition could not be used. All were lost.

- March 30, 1918