‘YOU’RE LOADED DOWN WITH 220 ROUNDS OF AMMUNITION, TWO BANDOLIERS OF FIFTIES ONE SLUNG OVER EACH WAY… FORTY–EIGHT HOURS RATIONS, A FULL BOTTLE OF WATER, A SHOVEL OR PICK SHOVED DOWN YOUR EQUIPMENT AT THE BACK AND A RIFLE AND A BAYONET… ROUND EIGHTY POUNDS. SO… YOU JUST BLUNDERED ALONG, BLUNDERED ALONG… IF YOU CAME UNDER HEAVY SHELLFIRE YOU’D  IMMEDIATELY TAKE SHELTER IN  A SHELL HOLE… NEARLY ALL FULL OF WATER… ALONE, I FELT I WAS ALONE ALTHOUGH I KNEW THERE  MUST HAVE BEEN MEN ON EITHER SIDE OF ME.’