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Date: May 2nd 1917
Diary

Wed. May 2 -

Very little work can be done in daytime as there is danger of being observed by enemy aircraft. We keep everything under cover as much as possible. But they seemed to get our position very well for in early afternoon, they started a sweeping and searching fire with their heavies which lasted nearly two hours and very narrowly missed some of the guns. They came especially close to Nos. 1 & 4. Ours is #4. We were in the little dugout beside our gun at first but soon decided to run for sap and it was just as well we did as there was a direct hit in the dugout not long afterwards which demolished it burying our blankets, etc. and which certainly would have put us out of business had we been in it. Considering the number of shells dropped around all so near and yet just missing, it seems marvellous that more aren't hit. Later, we were ordered out and fired a few rounds then ran for sap again. They continued to shell well on into evening. Prepared for a heavy barrage early next morning. To be a general advance along whole front. The big advance everyone had been preparing for. A great many guns behind us all to be in it.