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

Published: 11:34 AM March 27, 2008

Updated: 1:46 AM February 23, 2021

At 5 pm we received our first order of the day. That was to drop our range from 5,000 yards to 500 yards. This was impossible – live burst shells on the ground 20 yards in front of the guns. At 6.30pm, the teams came up. Well none of us ever thought of be

At 5 pm we received our first order of the day. That was to drop our range from 5,000 yards to 500 yards. This was impossible - live burst shells on the ground 20 yards in front of the guns.

At 6.30pm, the teams came up. Well none of us ever thought of being pulled out. In the meantime, the infantry reserves had pushed the enemy over the hill in the rear.

We walked back down the railway and along the trench. We saw many wounded.

- March 21, 1918.

Up at 4am. A good run issue and the day commenced. Dawn came, fairly quiet. Germans had been busy getting their guns up. Position in open field. The 11 guns of the division in a line. The outlook did not look healthy.

- March 22, 1918.