Birthday Present!

25th October 1916

Today was my birthday, I was 20. I recieved my parcel from my mum, she'd given me some new socks which I really needed and some chocolate and cigerattes. Then there was my present from the Hun a counter attack proceded by heavy shelling and another 1000+ killed Hun to my name. We were having breakfast when the shelling started we all climbed into holes and little dugouts to protect ourselves about an hour later we got the call that the Hun were coming. As I was on the flank of our set of trenches I manned our lewis machine gun. As they started across no mans land I opened fire, the bullets cut them down in waves but more kept coming I kept firing and firing with leofrick reloading and feeding the bullets, I couldn't fire to fast though otherwise the gun would overheat and jam. I also had to be careful ofthe flying crank handle on the side of the gun otherwise it would smash my knuckels. Then our guns started firing over gas shells, this soon stopped the Hun coming out of their trenches, when I looked out over no mans land all I could see was rows and rows of dead or dying Hun and it was mainly due to me. Even now i'm still shocked I killed that many people. We lost another man though, crisps was on the shelling and he gassed himself, silly bugger. What a great birthday this was maybe it'll be better next year, I hope.