Mosman 1914-1918

April

over level country. Machine gun fire very heavy. Formed a line about noon & held it till late in the afternoon Retired again. [Mcdermott?] killed. I was going back on the village when I found poor old Bill Marsden dead. Counter attack about dusk, we got back most of the ground lost in the day. 5th Btn. out of the line. 6th came to the wood, found we had pretty heavy casualties. 21 out of [no.2] 8th In cellars in village, had my first wash for 8 days. Went out salvaging & got a change of clothes & a bed. It is funny to see the troops in & out of the houses souveniring all kinds of things, beds, blankets, clothes, eatables. 10th Still in cellars at Villers-Bretoneaux. Had some Mustard Gas put over last night 11th Blown up in the yard by a shell got a bit of a shaking up. 12th Moved

April

out of Villers-Bretonneux about 7 kilos away, living in dugouts. 13th moved again to some scrub & built ourselves dugouts. 14th Just getting ready for bed, & warned for guard over a lot of "duds" at B.H.Q. 15th Dismounted guard & warned to prepare to move. Moved up into reserve line. Changed over in daylight & got a bit of a "Straffe". Living in good little dugouts. 15 16th 17th Worked pretty hard D. Coy. had about 40 casualties with gas. 18th Went on first sick parade. We have seen a few airial fights lately. 3 planes came down one day One in flames, one hit by a shell. 20th Went to work carting wood in the village to the right of Cachy. Had a bag of wood blown up. 3p. Moved out 10 mile march to LaHoussoye 21st First wash for