Bullets whistled over continuously. It was unsafe to stand upright. Stooping & crawling around we fed & disposed ourselves for the night I marvelled then & have often since as I've observed other troops in comparison at the wondrous adaptability of the Australian soldiers. Here they were in a situation absolutely strange to them, it was unique – old South-African men acknowledged it a hotter spot than they had ever known yet these lads weren't strange. Forthwith they set to work to make the best of the situation – several improvising fireplaces from tins other doing salvaging to make their "possy" as safe & comfy as possible for the night. To me they seemed as miners on the sapphire fields camping on a new patch so unconcerned were they. Yet this was a hell of a place & the continuous rattle of rifle & boom of gun would not let you forget there was a war on & the enemy not more than 400 yards from us. Mother earth was our mattress for that & many successing nights but lolled by fatique most of us slept profoundly.
