night as a working party another squad having gone up in the morning. very few at the Chalk-pits to day our guns are raising cane with Fritz & a good thing Bert Dent, runner to Mc’Inorville says its a hot run. Thursday Oct 19. Put on fatigue if you please by the mad R.S.M. of course I don’t finish the job. first time the unit has been up as far as this & we are working four posts ahead of this one. Rain all day called up at 4.30 PM to go into the line. go up the Bapaume road in a car, get as far as Bells Pit & I with Dent get bumped off & put in charge of Bells Pit. Major Bell came up but went back. Bells Pit is an old wine cellar of a ruin mansion of Pozieres, the debris of the place is on top of us to act as a detonator, a battery of 9.2 just across the other side of the road. Not a wink all night. the 87 & 102 & get lost & straggle out of
▸ Where was he?
▸ The war at this time
The 4th Canadian Division prepares
The 4th Canadian Division is preparing for a major assault on Regina Trench scheduled for October 21. The 87th Battalion (Canadian Grenadier Guards) and 102nd Battalion will lead the attack. Artillery registration is underway, identifying targets and calibrating the creeping barrage. Regina Trench has resisted since September. The Canadians who captured portions on October 8 suffered an estimated 70% casualties in some units. This time, the attack will be made with fresh troops and better artillery preparation. Success is not guaranteed.
