Their trench mortars both heavy and medium do a good deal of damage and are difficult to silence, nothing but the heaviest shell does them any damage. Ammunition for the field artillery is not scarce but we are put on a daily allowance of 200 rounds per gun 18 pounder and 50 for the 4.5 Howitzers. Chief work of the guns is to continue to cut the enemy's wire. The Corps is now holding about 10,000 yards of front, weather still very hot & no sign of rain.
5-9 August 1916Fairly quiet on our front but trench mortars have been active. The village of Serre in the German line and opposite the centre of our line is an important point the possession of which would enable us to