H Harrison, Royal Engineers, St Neots
We saw the big attack our troops made on Feb 6th from a hill about 3 miles away. It was a sight to see the shrapnel bursting in the air, and the other shells making the earth and dust fly all over the place. Our Artillery is fine, also the French. I was told by one of the N.C.O.’s who was in the attack that when they made the final charge they found the Germans in their trenches absolutely petrified with fright, so much so that they offered no resistance whatever. The ruin out here is awful, it makes one say: “Thank God the war is not taking place in England.” I am afraid that very few people in England really realize the damage that has been done. The Germans generally round about here have had quite enough of it from all accounts. I was told the following by a man who was in the trenches at the previous place we were at, which shows how some of the Germans feel. One night the troops who were in the German trenches put up a big board on which was written: “We are Saxons in these trenches and do not wish to fight you, so do not shoot at us, and we will not shoot at you, but keep your shots for the Prussian Gaurds who are relieving us to-morrow night” – and the shooting stopped, except for the outposts occasionally firing shots up in the air, for the 24 hours which the Saxon troops remained in the trenches. The German shells are not anything like so good, according to all accounts, as they were at the beginning of the War. The other day the section I was in was working near the village where the severe fighting has recently taken place, and the Germans fired 11 “Jack Johnsons” at it, and nine out of that number did not explode. When the war started the Germans were firing about 20 shots to our one, now we are firing about 23 to their one, which seems to point to their being short of shells. The chief thing we require out here is more men, so that men can be relieved more often, as it is a sight to see troops returning from the trenches all over mud and water, and it makes you wonder how they can keep their smiling faces, and make jokes as they pass you along the road. It speaks well for an Englishman’s endurance. I am glad to see that men are enlisting in St Neots and round about, for the more men we get the sooner the war will be over.
