and, as soon as possible, investigated the damage
below, quite expecting to find everything absolutely
gone, but found there was just a chance to get into
the face to rescue the men I knew were there and
then came up to get a working party on to it as
soon as possible. From the enemy's standpoint
the result must be regarded as an absolute fiasco.
The explosion took place just at dusk, and the
enemy immediately commenced a heavy bombard-
ment with much rifle-fire. It looked quite like
an attack, and I must say the men in the trenches
were very good. The customary ' stand-to ' at
dusk was on and every man in his place and ready
for action. In a few^ seconds everybody w as pump-
ing away with rapid fire as hard as they could go.
While there was, of course, tremendous excitement
there was no panic and there was no attempt to
run."

Rapid Fire

July 30. — Fired borehole at 11.20 a.m. and
twelve rounds rapid fire from trench mortar into
crater.

Charge just cratered in old one.

Got into heading in one hour and started long
hole to left.

Enemy fired large charge in R crater 3.30 a.m.
No damage.



224 ONE MOLE RAMPANT.

Called to P4B re enemy mining, electric boring,,
etc. Man who heard it says he even heard talking,
and would have heard what they said if he knew
German. One was an officer because he had a
refined voice ! {Note : All pure imagination or
noise from our own trench. Nothing ever hap-
pened there.)

July 31.— Fired borehole with 100 lb. at 12.15
P.M. Blew well in left wall of old crater. Lieut.
B. took over at 6 p.m.

[letter]

''August 1, 1915.

" Mining has been very active of late. Since
my last letter we have sprung two mines and the
Germans one, which, however, did no damage.
We had been able to hear them working in the
crater, and, as they persisted in it, we were able to
let them have it twice in twenty-four hours.

" H. has got his second star and well deser^'es it.
He was, of course, senior to me, and I suppose mine
will come along some time in the future. M., who
,was formerly with us, has now turned up again.
The programme will now be as follows. H., as
O.C. detachment, will look after routine work and
generally supervise mining in our section, but will
not actually take a turn in the trenches, though no
doubt frequently up there. The other three of us
.will take it in turns — one day in the trenches, one



ONE MOLE RAMPANT. 225

day rest and one day on tap to help and advise
neighbouring divisions.

" I have just figured in a new position : prosecu-
tor in court martial. As I knew nothing of my
duties it was fortunate I did not have much to do.

'• The weather is very changeable. After con-
siderable rain and fairly chilly weather, we are now
having a scorcher again. There is no news at this
end of the ' munitions ' application."

We Suffer

August 1. — At 12.35 P.M. enemy exploded
mine in crater opposite R. Two sappers in C
caught by 12 ft. of gallery collapsing. Started
cleaning out and got to first man, who was dead,
vvhen enemy was heard in direction of East X-C.
Noises heard suggested tamping charge. Probably
the cross-cut was exposed. {Note : By enemy
crater ; blocked from our side) and enemy had got
in. Heavy shelling started, and men were with-
drawn. Shortly after another charge was fired by
enemy, at 4.30 p.m.

Enemy fired large number of 6-in. and 8-in.
A. P. (Note : Armour-piercing or delay action
shells), evidently searching for shaft, but only
scored hit on our dug-out.

At 10.40 P.M. a mine was fired in front of Tl.
No damage.



226 ONE MOLE RAMPANT.

Enemy Makes Big Effort To Destroy Our

AVORK

August 2. — At 9 A.M. enemy again heavily
shelled \is with 8-in., mostly A. P. Hit shaft and
men's dug-out. All destroyed. R trench prac-
tically destroyed. Started repairing, when enemy
again blew in crater at 3.30 p.m. Work resumed.
(Note : Comparatively few casualties, as all men
withdraw^n to support trenches during worst bom-
bardment.)

Lieut. G. took over. Six-in. shell on dug-out
at E. Five sapper casualties. Sausages also used.

[letter]

''August 2, 1915.

'■ We have had a particularly trying time the
last few days. The Germans have been exceed-
ingly active, and in the last twenty-four hours have
sprung three mines and given us a terrific bombard-
ment with heavy stuff.

'* Of the mines, none, 1 am glad to say, reached
our trenches, but one w^as sufficiently close to one of
our galleries to bury and kill two of our men. The
})ombardment damaged one of our shafts suffi-
ciently to make it highly uncomfortable for us ; it
will require a lot of work to put it in shape again.

■' As you will in the meantime have seen in the
papers, they gave our line a very nasty smack on
the left at Hooge."



ONE MOLE RAMPANT. 227

A Bad Strafe

August 3. — R again heavily shelled. Brigade
Mining Officer (Note : The Mole caught him as he
fell), his batman and Lucas (the Mole's batman)
all wounded.

About 11 A.M. enemy blew to right of Snipers'
House ; crater distant 50-60 yards.

Lieut. B. to N2 to investigate report of German
canister (charged with explosive) found in borehole
in our heading. Pure " wind." " Wind " reports
also in Q2, T2, 23A, 27PC, and again, later, in T2
and P4.

Trenches again shelled in evening.

August 4. — Started shaft in T. Enemy used
big sausages heavily in Q. Blew in parapet, but no
damage to shaft.

A Let-Up
August 5. — All quiet in trenches.

[letter]

^^ August 5, 1915.

" At the moment I have nothing to acknow-
ledge. ' Munitions ' have now apparently put
something to G.H.Q., as our CO. has received an
inquiry as to whether I was willing to resume work
in England. My reply was to the effect that I was
willing to do so, but wished to retain my temporary
commission without pay. I expect it will take a



228 ONE MOLE RAMPANT.

few weeks to get it all settled up, but there is
every probability that it will go through all right
eventually.

" I cannot honestly say that I am sorry at the
prospect in view of the fact that the authorities
evidently consider my services useful at home. The
past week has been particularly trying, and after
practically a year of active service I shall not feel
dissatisfied to let someone else take my place out
here — for a time, at least, as it is quite possible that
I might be ordered to the front some time later on
again.

" We have been experiencing an intermittent
but heavy bombardment for a number of days now,
and that, together with the number of mines the
Germans have been springing, though practically
all harmless, has put my nerves rather on edge. Up
to a certain point one gets hardened to the ordinary
wear and tear of trench life, but of late I have found
it more trying than previously. Casualties, I am
glad to say, have not been too heavy."

[letter]

" August 7, 1915.

" The heavy bombardment they have been giv-
ing us has ceased, and things are fairly normal at
the present time, that is to say, only the usual
amount of ' hate ' (rifle and shell-fire) going on,
liCt us hope it will remain so for some time,



— ASRRcVI.ATlONn



X."CAMQ Urt.ET

Q-CUR
E.-EIMEMY.



Ci




■;



CWAWLEO
OUT



S'ELOI
1915



_)
■< O

Oo

to-






Q-NE MOLE RAMPANT. 229



" B., our third man, is going off with a crocked
knee and is to be replaced by a substitute."



REPAIRS

'August 7. — Noises reported in B, but nothing
later.

August 9. — Attack at Hooge. {Note : By us.)
Heavy bombardment from 2.45 a.m. At St. Eloi
fairly quiet. We preceded bombardment by rapid
rifle-fire which rippled all down the line from
Kemmel to Hooge. (Note : During this period
we were repairing damage done to R shaft by bom-
bardment on the 2nd.)

I^letter]

''August 10, 1915.

" I am now under orders to return to England
and to report to the War Office. I am only await-
ing a ' movement order ' and railway warrant,
which should be at hand shortly."

August 13. — Got into C.

August 16. — Enemy reported in C. Instructed
to listen in magazine heading, and, if nothing
heard, to push out south-west from end.

Enemy reported close.

August 17. — Nothing more heard in C until
afternoon, .fudged to right and down.

August 18. — Nothing more heard in C. (Note :
Enemy blew crater opposite 11 on 24th.)



230 OlJE MOLE RAMPANT.

CHAPTER XV

MENTIONED IN DISPATCHES

Sir John French writes in his dispatch of October
15, 1915 : —

*' I desire to call attention to the splendid work
carried out by the tunnelling companies. These
companies, officered largely by mining engineers,
and manned by professional miners, have devoted
themselves wholeheartedly to the dangerous work
of offensive and defensive mining, a task ever
accompanied by great and unseen dangers.

" It is impossible within the limits of a dispatch
to give any just idea of the work of these units, but
it will be found, when their history comes to be
written, that it will j^rcscnt a story of danger, of
heroism and of difficulties surmounted worthy of
the best traditions of the Royal P^ngineers, under
whose general direction their work is carried out."

" France,

''Novemhcr 80, 1915.

"To Field-Marshal Karl Kitchener of Khar-
toum, K.P., G.C.B., O.M., etc.

'• My Lord, — In accordance with the last para-
graph of my dispatch of October 15, 1915, I have
the hono\ir to bring to your notice the names of



ONE MOLE RAMPANT. -31

those whom I recommend for gallant and distin-
guished service in the field.
" I have the honour to be

" Your Lordship's most obedient servant,
" (Signed) J. D. P. French, Field-Marshal,
*' Commander-in-Chief the British Forces in
the field."

[extract]

mentioned in dispatches
royal engineers
Tempy. Sec. Lieut. W. G.



The London Gazette Supplement, July 1, 1917.

CORPS OF ROYAL ENGINEERS

Temp. Sec. Lieuts. to be temp, lieuts. : W. G.
Awarded 1914 Star, 1917.



232 ONE MOLE RAMPANT.



Gower. captain fluellen, you must come

PRESENTLY TO THE MINES ; THE DUKE OF GLOUCESTER
WOULD SPEAK WITH YOU.

Fluellen. to the mines ! tell you the duke,

IT IS NOT SO GOOD TO COME TO THE MINES ; FOR,
LOOK YOU, THE MINES IS NOT ACCORDING TO THE
DISCIPLINES OF THE WAR ; THE CONCAVITIES OF IT IS
NOT SUFFICIENT; FOR, LOOK YOU, TH'aDVERSARY,
YOU MAY DISCUSS UNTO THE DUKE, LOOK YOU, IS DIGT
HIMSELF FOUR YARD UNDER THE COUNTERMINES : BY
CIIESHU, I THINK a' WILL PLOW UP ALL, IF THERE IS
NOT BETTER DIRECTIONS.

— Henry the Fifth, act iii., sc. 2.







1205 00869 9520