Practiced [sic] miniature attack, getting back to camp at 12.30, when the news that the Battalion was going up the line this evening was imparted to us by an officer.
[…]
Moved off at about 5.30 pm and marched some miles over sticky clay – terrible going. Passed many parties of war-torn tommies.
Suddenly the company came under heavy shell fire, most of the boys getting the ‘wind up’. I got a bit windy after the fourth shell. Many dropped only about 20 yards from us. The ‘Coy’ was placed in dug-outs and then moved to trenches, finally being placed in original dug-outs. The one into which I got with eight others was filthy, and I spent a most miserable night. I was very damp and cold.
14th August 1916. Extract from the last full diary entry of Lance-Corporal Eric Peppiette of the 10th (Scottish) Battalion, King’s Liverpool Regiment, and former University of Liverpool Library Assistant [SPEC S/D 640.P42.T23]. This week’s war: 106.
