[Insert: two photographs, with manuscript note, 'Photographed February 1919'. One shows a painted wooden sign, 'Guillemont', the other a painted wooden sign, 'Bernafay Wood'. Both in snow.]
it safer to occupy shell holes in front & from here their snipers are sometimes very troublesome. The 59th Brigade attacked the German trench in their front with three of their weak battalions but our artillery barrage was very feeble and the attack did not succeed. This failure cost them about 300 casualties. The line is chiefly held by machine guns and small groups here and there. A new trench was dug last night in spite of the rain & mud & by aeroplane photographs it looks to be a good trench and will be useful for the Guards when they have to attack in the course of the next few days.
19 September 1916
Still wet and very cold. Orders received that the Guards relieve us on the 20th. I manage