August 3, 1916

Aug 3. Advanced to ’The Quadrangle’ a group of
trenches behind Mametz Wood. Found a small
shelter for mess and dug out a shell hole to act
as aid post. In a little valley behind us are
a quantity of guns – two Australian 8” Howitzers,
two batteries French 75’s and two bigger French batteries,
and four batteries of British 60 pounders about 50 yds
behind our mess – and which make a tremendous
concussion when fired. One can see
shell leaving the gun and the gun jumps feet
off the ground and run backwards with the
recoil.