MARCH 6th. We went for the first time up to the trenches, these are only 150 yards from the enemies trenches and we were under shell fire, we went on fatigue with the Royal Engineers repairing the firing trenches.

[1415 L/Cpl. Alfred Afford; D Company]

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6th March 1915. Knocking about all day until 4 o’clock when we went into the trenches at Ploegsteert Wood. This is in Belgium. It was about three miles from where we were billeted. The wood is a wonderful place, all pathways made through by the Engineers, just like a town. In the trenches, which are made of sand bags there are dug outs which the men have their meals in and sleep in. Each dug out has a seperate name such as ‘Hotel de Rochart’, ‘Castle Dase’ etc.

Company Mess in Ploegsteert Wood. a view of a dug-out constructed from earth, wood, sandbags and corrugated iron. Courtesy of the Imperial War Museum © IWM [Art.IWM ART 4815].

I was put in charge of a trench where there were about seven regulars and five terriers. I felt rather nervous, but that soon went off. During the night I went with the Sergeant to the listening patrol which is about 60 yards from the German trenches. We could see the Germans working on their wire entanglements. The Germans kept sending up rockets lighting everything up everywhere, making us keep our heads down because of the snipers who are always on the lookout. As you go between the trenches you come across dead Germans, both having laid there for a week or two.

[2381 Pte. George Potter Bagshaw]