May 12—I have been very short of sleep this week because on Wednesday we set out at 5.30 p.m. to take over some trenches about four miles away: we were to be relieved by the Senior Company, end after being tear-gassed we got home about 1. Thursday night we had a dance which went on till 12; then on Saturday morning we had to "stand to" from still 5: anyway I slept on Saturday afternoon. On Wednesday we had a TEWT and have now done at least one on the four operations of Advance, Attack, Defence and Withdrawal. On Friday we had a demonstration of the Vickers and Bren guns. It was really frightening, but useful to teach us how. important it is to take cover.
We have had lovely oather and at this time I should Have been in Oxford if all had been well Leave was stopped because of the invasion of Holland and Belgium. How dif-cult it is going to be being generous to Germany!—and yet that is why I am fighting.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.