South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-17
How it Feels to Go "Over
the Top" Told in Diary by
Brother of Local Woman.

Mrs c. II. Petro, 522 w. Lawrence
St. has received a letter from her
brother, 9. c. Van Brugh, who has
served three years with the Cana
dian forces at the front, and at pres
ent is in convalescent camp in
London, England. In this letter
Van Brugh encloses a diary which
he kept last August while in the
trenches.
1t is as follows:
August IA, 1917.-Ordered TO
move up into reserve for the 4th
and 5th brigade. They go over in
the morning along with the 1st and
4th divisions. Rumors Of a hard
trip.
August Is, 2:45 p. m.-All is
quiet. Got in with only two casual
ties about II a. m. Had enough am
munition issued 10 us TO annihilate
the German army. Barrage open
ed at $3.50 a. m, Beautiful display
of fireworks. Burning oil and flares
and star shells of q" colors. Pris-
oners coming back by the score at
10 o'clock. and still they come, but
the lighting has ceased. Our cas-
ualties have been slight. Hill 20"
and all detectives taken. Seven p.
m. counter attacks all repulsed. En-
emy's artillery range is bad.
August 18th and 17th.-Still In
reserve, everything quiet and we
4r-fFa Gn for
up to supports tonight.
August 1Sth.-Got here o. X.
We are in cellars in Cite st. Pierre.
Enemy Smelling heavy. Looks bad
for us tonight. Am going on work
ing party carrying trench motors
to front line.
August 1Oth.-Got several bad
scares last night. Shell got three
of the boys just in front Of me.
Smelling continues. Working party
again tonight. Had lots of sleep
so far this trip.
August 20th.-Things are quiet
er. Twenty-seventh and 29th go over
in the morning with us in close sup
ports. Have orders to move at 1
a. m Many thoughts of home.
August 23rd.-We are out
(thank COD of the worst hole, 1
have ever seen or ever expect TO
see. Twenty-ninth Bat went over
just in front of us with the 27th
Bat. on cur right at a. m. Fritz's
barrage opened and he came over
at the same time. They met in no
mans land" Enemy outnumbering
Hnf
fghting. We were called on TO
move up and reinforce the 29th in
broad daylight. Trenches were all
blown in and the dead and dying
were everywhere. God what awful
sights. Enemy artillery. machine
guns, and airplanes all tried TO hold
Us back but some Of us got there.
Never saw so many dead men in my
life but, thank God. most OF them
were Germans.
"Bombs ran short and had 10 re-
tire a short distance. German re-
endorsements kept coming faster
than we could kill them. Retired
TO old front line at about Il a. m.
Wheeler, Redmond and myself We're
put on post at corner Of Malay al
ley and Commotion trench. Had no
hopes of ever coming out. Shells
just raining down and REDMOND
had a yellow streak and was scared
20 death Got so damned mad at
him 1 told him I'd shoot him If he
didn't keep quiet. Wheeler had
lots OF nerve but poor initiative. Got
half buried several times and hit
with spent shrapnel some few times.
At about O'Clock things got quiet
er and we started 10 take back some
OF the wounded. Enemy spotted us
and started again and kept it up all
night with his artillery. Poor ola
sgt Spencer got hit, MCCorrison,
Found. sgt. Kicks, and a lot OF my
chums are gone. but 1 have the sat
isfaction OF knowing I got even with
soma OF them that day Have de-