In an instant his artillery replied, and against the morning clouds the bursting shrapnel flashed.

Now and then our shells would hit a German ammunition dump, and, for a moment, a dull red light behind the clouds of smoke, added to the grandeur of the scene.

I knelt on the ground and prayed to the God of Battles to guard our noble men in that awful line of death and destruction, and to give them victory, and I am not ashamed to confess that it was with the greatest difficulty I kept back my tears.

There was so much human suffering and sorrow, there were such tremendous issues involved in that fierce attack, there was such splendour of human character being manifested now in that "far flung line," where smoke and flame mocked the calm of the morning sky, that the watcher felt he was gazing upon eternal things.
When it got thoroughly light I determined to go on up the road to the 3rd Artillery Brigade which was to press on after the infantry.

I found both officers and men very keen and preparing to advance.