with fifty men. Lieut. G. reported noises opposite
X-C in C. (Note: To right), and also diagonally
from ahead to east. (Note : This last was some-
thing quite new and very disconcerting, as it
seemed to show an extensive system of defensive
mining in protection of the objective. This sound
was not confirmed until July 5th, and all rather
doubtful about it as far as anything to the left of
C was concerned until then.) Stopped face of C,
and started to cut powder magazine.

Ju7i€ 27. — Started X-C to east in C. Noises
heard occasionally on front. Lieut. H. took over.

Our Fears Confirmed

June 28. — Noises, undoubtedly due to mining,
heard at end of West X-C. Started new E shaft.



204 ONE MOLE RAMPANT.

[letter]

''June 28, 1915.

"I return cutting from 'Engineering and
Mining Journal,' which is quite amusing in its
way, particularly as, instead of receiving ' military
instruction,' we have people attached to us for
their instruction, and as nothing but the verdict
of a professional mining engineer will still the
clamours of a scared infantry battalion when they
hear alleged ' sounds of hostile mining."

" H. will probably get his leave first, but when
we do not yet know. It might be much delayed
or, on the other hand, almost at once.

"Yes, Johnson was a splendid chap and
deserved his honours thoroughly.

" The Germans took to plumping in shells near
our billets a short time ago, so we have now got
some huts built farther out, and have just moved
into them. They are quite comfortable, though
not quite so well equipped as our former home."

June 29. — Loud noises heard in listening post
south of right end Ql, but can be heard all over
surface, so probably not mining. Lieut. G. took
over.

No Man's Land

June 80. — CX-C left stopped. Lieuts. G. and
W. spent several hours during the day (Note :



ONE MOLE RAMPANT. 205

Crawled out through grass) in front of Ql trying
to locate noise, crawling out about seventy-five
yards. Came to the conclusion it was due to
surface work.

Lieut. B. came to relieve Lieut. H., going on

leave.

July 1. — Lieut. B. took over.

[letter]

'' Juhj 2, 1915.

" Leave is still indefinite, but there is a prob-
bability in favour of the date already mentioned —
arrival evening of July 7th.

" We have now attached to us two infantry
officers and some fifty men to learn something
about the work from us, so that they could under-
take defensive work for their brigade if necessary,
and leave us to deal with offensive work. They
are quite keen, and will soon pick up enough to
deal with ordinary situations.

" I had rather an interesting time the other
morning. Some noises, supposed to be hostile
mining, had been heard, so together with one of
these brigade officers I crawled out in front to
investigate. This was in broad daj^light, but we
could wriggle along in the long grass without being
seen. We got threequarters of the way over to
the enemy's trench when we espied a dug-out, and
finally decided to investigate it. So we stalked
forward (really with much trepidation) quite in



2o6 ONE MOLE RAMPANT.

the approved melodramatic style — business of
cockeJ revolver and hoarse whispering — but even-
tually found it unoccupied and apparently not
used for a long time. We eventually decided the
noises were surface noises of some sort."

We Take A Chance

July '1. — C, made chamber at face and started
X-C left to parallel enemy trench.

Note: Owing to absence of confirmation it was
not belie\ed that the enemy had got to the left
of C, and it was intended to run a parallel from
which short branches could be run to get absolutely
under the enemy trench. As for the enemy work-
ing to the right of C, we were satisfied to let them
come on, supposedly more or less parallel to C, as
long as they were not aware of our gallery, and
we could continue pushing on. This involved some
risk, but we took the chance of picking them up
again from our powder magazine X-C before they
got very far or before they blew a camouflet on
us.

July S. — Lieut. G. took over at (> p.m.

{Note : Thanks to communication trenches, it
was now possible to get up by daylight. The
officer relieving would motor-bike as far as prac-
ticable, going at full speed where under observa-
tion (to K.S.H.), and leave bike under cover at
entrance to C.T. (near Voormezeele), where the
outgoing man would pick it up.)



ONE MOLE RAMPANT. 207

On arrival found bottom set of E absolutely
wrong. Subsequently changed. (Note : A wail of
woe over misdeeds of brigade section doing the
work, as they were now supposed to be fully
instructed.)

July 4. — C-XC left, advancing with special
caution.

(Note : The Mole, still suspicious of enemy
working and at the cost of slower working, took
special precautions for secrecy and emergency
action.)

We Break Into Enemy Gallery
July 5. — C-XC left broke through to enemy
working.

(Note : Preparations in the way of getting filled
bags ready for tamping, in view of some such con-
tingency, had been done as far as possible. On
breaking through, took immediate action for lay-
ing charge, &c.)

To " Blow " Or Be •' Blown " ? A Two Hours'

Race
Charged and tamped. Owing to advanced pre-
parations beforehand this only took two hours ; but
they seemed endless, as one did not know what
counter-action the Boche was taking.



We Win

Fired charge at 3.20 p.m. Smoke seen coming
behind enemy hne, indicating complete success



2o8 O'NE MOLE RAMPANT.

of blow-through. {Note : This unfortunately also
revealed the fact of British mining operations here
to the enemy.)

Lieut. B. took over at 10.30 p.m. (The Mole
probably blessed him for being so late.)

[letter]

''July 5, 1915.

•• I now hear my leave may be postponed
possibly one or two days. I shall not be able to
conveniently wire before jiiy arrival at Folkestone,
but hope to be home shortly. I am going to try
to make a running start and squeeze an extra day
out of it by biking to Boulogne instead of waiting
for the official train.

" I have just tired another mine. It was meant
to be offensive, but they have rather blocked our
game by putting out defensive work. Still, we
can yet give them a good shake up. This was very
successful, as evidenced by our smoke pouring
along their gallery and up their shaft."

Serious News
July (3. — Lieut. H. returned from leave.
Lieut. B heard enemy on right of B, close to
junction of new back-heading. Put in X-C nine
feet. Enemy heard below. Also heard them
under box heading to left of B. Apparently have
nm under B.

(Note : This was all grave news. The galleries
had not been pushed out quite as far as wanted.



O'NE MOLE RAMPANT. 209

and the Boche might blow Ql at any moment. It
was eventually decided to take the serious risk and
push all work at utmost speed for the next day or
so, when it was hoped to be sufficiently close to
the various objectives, rather than fire a camouflet
as a defensive move. This last would have greatly
damaged our offensive preparations, and was there-
fore to be avoided if possible. Hence the decision
taken, though all recognised it meant hazardous
work.)

[letter]

''July 7, 1915.
*' I am sorry to say leave is again indefinitely
postponed, though it has been promised me for
as soon as possible. It seems that a new divisional
order limits the number of R.E.'s (of all branches)
away at one time. Very annoying, but can't be
helped.

'* Punch has two very amusing series appearing
from time to time. One is ' On the Spy Trail *
(Jimmy and his bloodhound), the other ' The
Watchdogs,' supposedly written by some officer
at the front. The last is very true to life, and is
evidently written by someone actually out here.
Curiously enough, the last to appear deals with a
case of cancelled leave and ends up :
' Gott strafe all the powers that be
From Sergeant Blank to G.O.C (General
Officer Commanding).



210 ONE MOLE RAMPANT.

Like the nervous clergyman at the bank cashier's
window, I heartily endorse this cheque.

" As a matter of fact, I hear that trains and
boats are switched about now, crossing at night
and obviating delay at Boulogne, so that w^hen my
leave does come off I shall probably drop the motor-
bike idea I had. H., who got his leave in just
before the new order, motored down, saving con-
siderable time under the conditions then existing.
The boat now gets in either very late at night or
early in the morning — I am not sure which. In
any event I should do my best to wire from
Folkestone.

" My last note told you of another counter-
mine fired, and it seems as if a further one will
soon be necessary at one of our other places. The
Germans are very persistent and have somewhat
spoilt our offensive move, but we can still give them
a really good shake up.

** Re service at home, we shall see if Munitions
Department do anything. I am very sceptical,
for the present at least. Possibly when the brigade
sections are more trained there will be less pressing
need for us.

'* M. is still on sick leave, having some opera-
tion on his nose. However, a third officer, B.,
has been attached to us. One of us is to be avail-
able to help out a neighbouring division when
wanted, but in the ordinar\' course of events we
hope this will not be frequent, in which case we



ONE MOLE RAMPANT. 211

shall, between the three of us, be able to get a
little more rest.

'' The weather has been very sultry of late,
ending up with a gale and heavy storm to-day.

" Our last mining exploit was quite exciting.
I had heard various sounds, which I attributed to
mining, but we could never hear anything very
definite, and others had rather scouted my opinion.
We were running a cross-cut from our main tunnel,
and we actually broke through to the Boche gallery.
Whether they did not see, or what happened, I
do not know% but we were certainly able to hear
someone working not far away. Not knowing
what might happen at any minute, I lost no time
in getting a charge in and tamped, a matter of
about two hours. In the ordinary way it takes
far longer than this, but I had everything prac-
tically ready. When w^e fired my observers dis-
tinctly saw a column of smoke about twenty feet
high shoot up behind the German lines, showing
that we had a clean blow through to their gallery
and up their shaft. H must have done even more
damage than usual. We have, as in this case,
unintentionally cut things pretty fine once or twice.
When it comes ofip all right it makes the result
very successful, but it was really too close for
comfort."

Can We Complete In Time ?
July 7. — Lieut. H. took over at noon. Started



212 ONE MOLE RAMPANT.

new small-size heading from end of B to due left,,
towards Snipers' House.

July 8. — Nothing heard. (Note : The enemy
might be charging and getting ready to " blow.")

Our Big Blow

July 9. — Stopped all headings and charged :
1,400 lb. ammonal in new B-XC.
200 lb. in old box heading.
200 lb. in heading right from B.
1,500 lb. in C face.
150 lb. in C-XC right.
(Note : Existing charges in A and D were also
to be fired.)

July 10. — Lieuts. G. and B. came up at
2.30 A.M. Fired at 3.30 a.m. (Note : This was
the prearranged time, at dawn, when the enemy
would be having " Stand to," and it was hoped
that his trenches would be well filled. The
infantry, Emma Gee (machine-guns) and gunners
were to open fire after the ' ' blow ' ' if any enemy
visible. H. fired the charges in Ql, the Mole in
Rl. They were fired, as arranged, five charges
successively. After the first two "blows" the
enemy machine-guns got busy, but from the third
on not a sound. Evidently they did not know,
what was coming next, and fled demoralised. Our
men must have caught a number as they w'ent.
There was a rain of debris into our own trenches,
and theirs were, of course, much w^orse. From



ONE MOLE RAMPANT. 213

the force of the explosion from the smaller charges
in Ql it appeared that they had exploded enemy
charges of considerable size, confirming what had
been guessed at.)

Rl main charges very successful. Very large
crater blown reaching parapet. (Note : Charge in
C-XC failed owing to wires being cut by previous
"blows.")

Ql also successful.

Lieut. H. left after firing. Lieut. G. stopped
in.

Entered C heading in the evening. Undamaged
for 200 feet.

July 11.— Very heavy shelling of Q and R in
afternoon. (Note : Reprisal for the mining.)
Enemy using large sausage thrower. Entered Q
shaft. Slightly damaged. D collapsed. B about
twenty feet open. Lieut. B. took over.

[letter]

''July 12, 1915.

" Leave news has varied almost from hour to
hour, but although I sent off a hurried note this
morning, which will probably reach you about the
same time as this, I now hear definitely it is to
be as follows : Start from here afternoon-night of
14th; arrive Victoria about 5 a.m., 15th (so do not
meet); leave Victoria 7 p.m. on the 19th.

" We have just fired some very successful
mines. We had two main mines and four smaller



214 ONE MOLE RAMPANT.

ones. The net result of it was to destroy an
-obnoxious ' snipers' house,' blow up a section of
trench and swamp a lot more of it with earth, and
utterly wreck a lot of German attempts at mining.
Altogether we fired off about 4,000 lb. of explo-
sive. The Germans were scared to death and ran
as if the Devil was behind them, so that our
machine-guns were able to get in a lot of useful
work. We did not attempt to take the trench,
though it could have been done without difficulty
— the trouble would have been to hold it after-
wards.

" The sight was magnificent. With our main
charges the explosion was terrific. The earth
heaved up like a big pimple, broke with a
tremendous fiamc bursting through, and then the
€arth shot up in the air for 200 feet like an
enormous fountain. In one instance one of our
smaller charges exploded a counter-charge in a
German gallery which we knew to be alongside of
us. We knew we had to take prompt action, and
were |)utting forth every effort to get our main
charges completed and ready for firing. The debris
was scattered over a tremendous area, and we had
to crouch behind parapets to protect ourselves. As
the craters were about 100 yards awa3^ you may
imagine what it was like in the German trenches.
The earth rocked like a ship at sea, and it is
-reported that one man was actually seasick !

'• The men in our trenches were in great glee,



ONE MOLE RAMPANT. 215

all up on the firing-step of the parapet and blazing
away at the panic-stricken enemy.

" All the authorities are highly delighted, and
the Commander of the 2nd Army Corps sent H.
and myself a special telegram of congratulations,
so we may yet figure as * mentioned in dis-
patches.' "

Wind Up

Juhj 12.— Many S.O.S. signals from P.N.T.,
and 23 trenches last two days. Nothing definite.

Leave
July 13. — Lieut. G. going on leave.

Enemy Active

July 17. — Enemy blew a large crater under
road to right front of new shaft at 2.30 a.m., forty
yards short. Twelve casualties. Small amovmt of
gas coming through into Q galleries. (Note :
Lieut. B. in.) Lieut. H. took over at 7 p.m.
(Note: This gave rise to much strafing by the
infantry, who could not see why operations over
forty yards away had not been detected.)

July 19. — Germans heard knocking in crater
over C at night. Probably driving piles. (Note :
Heard in our gallery.)

July 20. — Again heard, but some bombs from
trench mortar stopped them.



2i6 ONE MOLE RAMPANT.

[letter]

''July 20, 1915.

" The trip back was uneventful and quite com-
fortable. I found the pseudo-Rolls-Royce (lorry)
waiting for me when I got to railhead, and came
straight on here, where I had breakfast.

•' They have had considerable excitement
during my absence. The enemy blew a mine some
distance short of one of our trenches, but the debris
caused a number of casualties to fhe infantry in
the trench, I am sorry to say. The German
artillery has also been quite active."

July 21. — Lieut. G. took over at 6 p.m. Again
heard in crater.

July 22. — Again heard in C. Some noise
reported in B. (Note : Apparently unfounded.)

Counter-Charges

July 23. — Lieut. G. at noon heard enemy close
to WX-C in C. Started charging face of X-C,
with ooO lb. Probably enemy had picked up their
heading from crater.

Lieut. H. relieved at (> p.m. Placed another
charge in main C heading. Tamped. Enemy
heard working all night.

We " Blow " And Enemy Retaliates
Juhi 24. — Fired at (> a.m. Dull sober explo-
sion. Both charges in series. {Note: i.e. "blew"



ONE MOLE RAMPANT. 217

simultaneously.) Much timber blown up and near
edge of old crater raised.

Enemy replied with 500 whizbangs, rapid fire.
Nothing heard in B.

(Note : It would have been advantageous if the
infantry oould have occupied this crater. As it
>vas, being close to the enemy line, it was occupied
by the Germans, who found it a very useful start-
ing point for further mining operations. They
were driving piles, &c., without any attempt at
avoiding noise, and could be heard most distinctly.
Later on, after the system of raiding developed, a
party would no doubt have been detailed to rush
the crater and destroy the enemy works.)

Munitions Again

While the Mole was on leave his colleague,
M.S.S., again put in an urgent application to the
Ministry of Munitions for the utilisation of his
services at home. Shortly after his return to
the Front the Mole received the following from
W.R.P. :

" The following telegram was sent last night,
but only delivered here this morning :

" ' Direct Lieut. G. call personally A.A.G.,
R.E., War Office, to-morrow morning.'

" I went this morning to the War Office and
saw a senior officer, who, I presume, was the
A.A.G., and explained to him that your leave
expired yesterday evening. He told me that it was



21 8 ONE MOLE RAMPANT.

only yesterdaj' the Explosives Committee had
handed him the papers relating to yourself, and
having learned from them that you were on leave,
and believing it extended until to-night, he thought
that it would be better to see you here personally.
Under the circumstances, however, the papers will
be sent out immediately to Sir John French, and
you will no doubt hear from him.

" He asked me what I thought your feehngs
were on the subject, and I explained I knew you
would not hke to leave the service, and if you were
asked you would no doubt reply that they had the
correspondence before them, and if they considered
your services here were more important than at
the front, it was for them to give the decision.



a



I brought up the point that I knew you did
not want to relinquish your commission, and he
told me that under ordinary circumstances you
must be either one thing or the other, but an
arrangement might be come to whereby you were
lent by the War Office (without Army pay) for
munitions purposes, but at the same time retain
your rank in the Army.

'' He was exceedingly kind, and from a casual
remark he passed I ventured to ask if he knew
you. He said no, but that he knew all about your
work ; that you were a jolly good man, and he only
wished there were more of your kind at the front.
This, I hope, will not make you too proud !



5?



ONE MOLE RAMPANT. 219.

[letter]

''July 24, 1915.

" Please thank P. for the trouble he has taken
and for his letter. I still feel rather sceptical as
to any action being taken, as I know how reluctant
they are to withdraw anybody from service in the
field.

" I was not very long in getting on the job
again. The night of my arrival there was one of
the frequent panics in one of the trenches, and I
had to go up to pacify them. The next night was.
my turn for our own work. We are again in con-
tact with the enemy, and are firing to-day. . . .
Just heard that it went off successfully. The
Boches were evidently extremely annoyed, for they
sent over about 500 whizbangs !

" The 5th Division, who bnve just shifted,
wrote as follows :

" ' The G.O.C. 5th Division wishes, on the
departure of the division, to express his apprecia-
tion of the work carried on by the 171st and 172nd
Tunnelling Companies R.E. on the 5th Division
front during the last four months. The companies
have been in almost continual contact with the
enemy in underground galleries, and consequently
small mines and counter-mines have of necessity
been fired almost daily by us or by the enemy.
Difficult and trying situations have thus repeatedly
arisen, to meet which quick action and steady
nerves have been required.



220 ONE MOLE RAMPANT

" ' It is due to the devotion to duty and courage
of all ranks that these situations have been dealt
with so successfully.'

" After all that we are thinking of recommend-
ing the rabbit for a D.C.M. He goes on the job
again to-night."

Ten Mines In Ten Days

Juhj 25. — Got into C main to 175 feet.

Germans blew a large crater to right of C main,
breaching old crater, 10.30. No damage. (Note :
This was first of several enemy "blows," appar-
ently due to '' wind up," as they were too far away
to hear or to damage us.)

July 27. — Lieut. G. took over at 6 p.m.

Enemy heard working in crater.

A Near Thing

July 28.— Lieut. G. to P3 and P4. *' Wind."
(Note : To investigate reports. Returned to work-
ing places.)

Lieut H. to 27 and 28. Very unlikely.

Enemy fired a mine between Q shaft and
Mound, about 90 feet off, at 8.30 p.m. Damage
to trench negligible. Two men in D, which
partially collapsed. A chance of getting them out.

(Note : The Mole was about to inspect work in
Q to measure up, &c., but as it was just on time
for changing shift, waited on top to allow men to
get out. Hence only two men caught. The whole
ol" the shaft covering came down.



O'NE MOLE RAMPANT. 221

A Difficult Decision
Great excitement in the trench, as an attack
was feared. Everybody up on firing-step blazing
away. The Mole collected his sappers and, hastily
calling the roll, ascertained two missing. Cleared
the entrance to shaft. It was then a question as
to course of action. If the mine was really close
the gas would be through and have killed the two
men, and would be deadly until well ventilated.
On other hand, just a chance of rescue. After
prohibiting any of the men from entering the
mine, dropped down tlie shaft and found gallery
in bad state of collapse and dangerous, air bad,
but no gas ; managed to worm up to first man,
and found him living. Stopped all other work, and
put best sappers on to rescue work. Owing to
state of gallery only one man could work at a time
and in short shifts.

Rescued

July 29. — Got first man out at 3.30 a.m.
(alive).

Enemy working heard in crater at R in spite
of 6-inch shelling. {Note : We had informed the
siege battery that this crater was a good target,
and asked for their assistance. After much palaver
they got permission.)

Lieut. H. took over at 6 p.m.

Got second man out at 8.30 p.m. (alive).

Put in 12 feet bore and 50 lb. to right of Cl.



222 O'NE MOLE RAMPANT.

[letter]

*'July 30, 1915.

" Since writing last there has again been mining
activity in our sector. I beheve I told you of the
one that went up w ithout any damage at all to our
line and w-hich we attribute to a blue funk on their
part. Since then they have sprung another one,
rather closer to our line this time. It did not
damage the trench at all, but the outer rim
of the explosion just caught one of our galleries ;
quite accidental, I think, as they were so far away
that they could not have heard us, even if we had
been making a lot of noise. The gallery was badly
crushed in, many of the timbers being broken, but
fortunately none of the fumes from the explosion
penetrated in. Two of our men were caught, but
by strenuous work we were able to extricate them
both alive in the next twenty-four hours. They
were badly bruised and, of course, much shaken,
but no bones broken.

" I was going around to the various working
places to measure up progress. I had reached the
shaft, near which the enemy blew their charge, and,
looking down, saw that a man was working on the
pump. I thought to myself I would not stop him
but would wait for a few minutes until he had
finished pumping, and walked a few yards away
to where some new work was being started. I was
just looking at what had been done when I felt



ONE MOLE RAMPANT. 223

the characteristic rock of a mine and looked over
my shoulder just in time to see the cloud of smoke
shoot up. I made a running dive for the shaft,