Transcription: Our guns were dandy, for considering the enormous amount of shooting they had done throughout the campaign, they were still perfectly accurate and our lyddlite accounted for many things. 113      Jan 29th to Feb. 5th   A rather quiet period, the enemy seemed to have [undecipherable] off a little, for at times they never replied to our fire, and the attacks of the previous week seemed to have quieted them considerably.   Feb 6th   We bombarded the Germans front line trenches from BRICKFIELD to RAILWAY TRIANGLE. The fire was so effective; the Guards advanced and captured the trenches without losing a man. The Artillery there, were afterwards highly praised in a letter for splendid work; special inference was given to the way communications were kept by telephone. Undoubtedly which was for our Battery, for at one time I was receiving and sending orders for the firing of three batteries, besides our own, [with] all their lines being broken by shell-fire.   The Battery received orders to move to relieve 55th Battery R. F. A. next day.   Feb. 7th   I proceeded with the Captain to CROIX BARBETTE, to take over the wires and communications of 56th Btty. Arriving there about midday, one of the telephonists took me along the observing wire to the trenches. It was rather quiet, save for occassional bullets; - the chap with me was rather merry. He advised me to crawl on hands and knees across a point of ground just in rear of the trenches, as we would get sniped. I followed a little way, but on seeing an R.E. fellow walking about unconcerned, I thought, if it's safe enough for you, it is for me. I walked

Transcription: Jan 26th   At 7am our troops made a counter- attack on the lost ground. After a fierce bombardment, of about 3 hours, the Guards regained a little, but failed to get our six fire trenches, which was the objective. We fired feverously and were shelled in return. One 6' going right into the cellar of the farm by the left Section, quite a few near the guns, but only two men were wounded.   The fight went on more or less all day, but we failed to get any further forward, but repulsed an attack from the Germans in the afternoon.   The 1st Siege Battery, on our left rear, got it hot, shell going right into the farm where they were in action. It was very soon ablaze - but in spite of the heavy shelling. I watched the gunners pluckily go to and from the farm, moving the wounded. After a while [they] managed to put out the fire in spite of the persistent shelling. It was grand to watch them, [although] at times they were obscured from view by smoke from the shells and fire. But they stuck it grandly and after putting the fire out, they started shooting again, as if it were to get their own back.   During this time some shells fell very near us, but did no damage.   Jan 27 and 28th   [In] two days of attacks and counter attacks, very fierce and severe scrapping, we regained all the loss ground, and numbers of prisoners were taken.   No further casualties at the guns, which was lucky considering the shell fire they put over at intervals.   The Germans did a great deal of entrenching during the night's and we had some good targets to shoot at during the day.

Transcription: Jan 2nd to 23rd   During this period it was the usual give and take. We fired every day at any targets that presented themselves, and were occassionally shelled, very often at night.   The REDOUBT was retaken and lost many times, each attack meaning a fierce couple of hours work, till at length it was [undecipherable] 'no man's land' for neither side could hold it.   Rifle bullets at night made it rather uncomfortable.   The weather was very cold and wet, for a few heavy snowstorms. I sometimes had a fever in a bucket23.   Night attacks were very frequent - we were lucky in having only a very few casualties, [or] wounded, although quite a few went away sick.   One day during this period, I went to Bethune and had a much needed bath and change of underclothing. It was a relief for I, as most, was overstocked with 'livestock'. 110   Jan 24th   During the day the enemy bombarded the lock of the canal and railway line (by our observing station) with their 8' Howitzers. Sending over 129 shells[s]. which did no material damage, one shell fell plumb on the railway line and flung a piece of the rail (about 4 foot) right over our guns fully a thousand yards, and fell a few yards from where I stood, I thought it was a shell coming over.   We afterwards read in the papers of this incident and smiled to read the lot they made of it, whereas when it happened, we took little notice. We were rather more interested watching the effect of their fire on the lock, which they failed to hit.

Transcription: across much to the other fellow's disgust. He got wild when I insisted upon him helping me to mend a broken wire and prop it up on some trees. He was very angry and crawled back, but it was quite unnecessary, [for] I walked back and nothing came near me.   We went along some reserve trenches - a few light shell we[re] bursting a little beyond - I traced a wire into a redoubt and dodged inside as one whizzed over. 114   There was an Infantry telephonist inside, he said, 'Just in time mate, three of ours were put out just outside a few minutes ago.' He was working away quite unconcerned. I had a chat for a few minutes and started back, I think much to the relief of the chap with me. On the way back, the enemy were shelling RICHEBOURG Church with 'coal-boxes'. I stood on the road and watched about 20 go over, but they failed to reach it.   I went into the village at night and had a few drinks of rotten trench beer, came back to 56th Btty and slept in a loft of the farm, and had the best night' sun broken sleep that I had had since we were at rest, seven weeks before.   Feb. 8th   Had a day on my own strolling about, waiting for the Battery to come - they arrived about 6 pm. As we could not bring the guns into action until after dusk, on account of aeroplanes observation, the 56th Battery went out of position and moved towards RICHEBOURG. We took up the position of their guns, also the farm, and it was about the most comfortable billet we had ever has, as regards accomodation, for the building had escaped shell fire, which was strange, considering the village at the back had been 'through it' as had those on the left and right.

Description: Destinataire non identifié : Monsieur Elkan, habitant 2 rue Royale à Bruxelles. Elkan semble avoir été à la fois l'ami du marquis de Caux et une sorte d'agent pour les tournées de la Patti. - Comprend 200 lettres, 52 télégrammes, 1 carte de visite. - Comprend également 5 programmes et diverses coupures de presse. - Monogramme en relief du marquis de Caux : HC surmonté d'une couronne || Correspondance || || Correspondance || Destinataire non identifié : Monsieur Elkan, habitant 2 rue Royale à Bruxelles. Elkan semble avoir été à la fois l'ami du marquis de Caux et une sorte d'agent pour les tournées de la Patti. - Comprend 200 lettres, 52 télégrammes, 1 carte de visite. - Comprend également 5 programmes et diverses coupures de presse. - Monogramme en relief du marquis de Caux : HC surmonté d'une couronne

Description: Carnet de guerre et de prisonnier. Cinq cahiers d'école reliés entre eux. || Carnet de campagne et de prisonnier de Georges Louis Witrant, fait prisonnier en septembre 1914 lors du siège de Maubeuge.

Description: königlich-preußisches Offizierspatent von Wilhelm Pape

Description: Svjedodžba Johana Kulpera

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