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Friday, March 23, 1917

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Friday Mar 23. Did not get much sleep Stretcher case to Caberet rouge directly after breakfast, chicken & toast Capt Gordon called at relay yesterday & was surprised we were half starved, now a big improvement in the grub. Quite a lot of iron in the air round us. Meet Bert & Killjoy in the valley taking out a patient, Heavy shelling Green envelope to my chum, full of groans & grumbles I am afraid.

Killjoy & Bert (not Killjoys turn) take a walker down at 2.30 PM & do not return to R.A.P. relieved at 6 P.M. Sat Mar 24. fatigue in dugouts. Killjoy & I take out a walker via 130 trench etc.

I am writing before I make trip have a long letter half written to leave on my return Dugdale is pinched about letter writing & for a month our unit has no green envelopes & can only send one letter a week R.S.O. Abraham gets Parkien to censor mine in a white envelope - pretty poor envelope - Get a letter & paper from Belle after I am in

Where was he?
The war at this time

Final preparations for Vimy

The assault on Vimy Ridge is scheduled for April 9 (Easter Monday). Final preparations are underway. Artillery is being positioned; over 1,000 guns will support the attack. Ammunition dumps are filling. Troops are rehearsing on taped-out replicas of the German trenches. The attack plan is detailed and methodical. Every unit knows its objectives. Every soldier has been briefed. Maps showing the German trench system have been distributed down to platoon level, an innovation that gives junior leaders the information to act independently.