The diary narrated the life of a Canadian soldier (Donald Fraser). On September 1915, the Fraser and his other companions made their way to the firing lines, carrying rations. They had walked for three hundred yards, and arrived at the muddy and slippery trenches. The bullets only hit earth and they were safe from the rifle fires when in the trenches. The trenches were six to seven feet deep. Bullets whizzed passed as they marched on, and several men fired back. It had been common customs for both sides to continue firing once night falls. This tactic was used so that they could show the enemy that they had their defenses and offenses on guard and not to be taken by surprise. Men who were killed during this time were usually out in the open, showing the risk of moving out in the open. Fraser was introduced to the dug-outs, which was where the soldier slept. The conditions of the dug-outs were bad, since they had no clothes to change and the place was filled with rats. The food supply had increased, however the food were still the same variety. Occasionally they were given teaspoon of rum. During the day, he was in charge of fixing the trenches and building more dug-outs. Soldiers had to depend on their ears the most at night, and if they thought someone was approaching, they fire a flare to the suspected spot.
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JessieArchives
May 2015
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