the trench on the side of ridge at a point called Kings Cross & our dugout is only an entrance to a dugout used by some officers on Holloway Trench. The R.A.P is several hundred yards from us, it is nearer Kings Cross. we are 200 yards from our front line & 300 from Fritz he surely has got the drop on us, “No mans land” is on the up grade to Heinie. Cases in daylight have to be carried out thro the trench to Hospital corner. we drop into our dugout (passage) about 9 P.M. it is about 3’ x 14’ I sleep near the entrance, it’s a jolly cold night, Kent Walton & Norman take a case out at mid-night, We cannot move when a flare goes up. snipers are busy, & everywhere seems to be swept by machine gun fire. We spend Friday Jan 26 in our little dugout. we don’t go outside unless we have to for Heinie is very fond of lobbing his four five wonders onto us
▸ Where was he?
▸ The war at this time
Planning the spring offensives
Allied commanders are planning the 1917 spring offensives. The new French commander, General Robert Nivelle, proposes a major attack on the Chemin des Dames ridge. The British will attack at Arras, including the Canadian assault on Vimy Ridge, to draw German reserves northward before the French strike. Nivelle's plan calls for a decisive breakthrough within 48 hours. The offensive is scheduled for April. The British attack at Arras will begin on April 9; the French on April 16.
