Letters From the Front

Dated: October 16, 1915

No, my little hunt for a sniper was not nearly as dangerous an undertaking as you apparently imagine. First, you must remember that a one night experience in the trenches is quite enough for the average man of any sense to realize that 'heads down' is the rule on all occasions, unless a duty has to be done which means exposure. My hunt was for tracks or traces of snipers who work at night—very occasionally, too, we now know here— and, with one of my best shots nearby, I had ample support had there been any danger to anticipate outside an occasional stray bullet from the front. Civilians have been suspected, and none have dared practice during daylight, when so many men are about working in the labyrinth of communication trenches, and ever watchful with eyes and ears that have been trained to sound for months. Were a man shot in our rear during the day or night, the ground would be covered at once by a host of keen hunters, day and night, because news of such a deed travels very fast indeed. A night hunt after snipers between the lines is really exciting, and a man needs much nerve and great patience if he is to succeed.
It has been foggy the last two days, and early yesterday morning, and last night the Boches began shouting across to us. As I called to a nearby man in the next bay to where I stood to pass the word to 'stand to' at 4 a.m. he shouted it out so loudly that the Gerboys called back, over a distance of at least 200 yards, 'shout a little louder.' There had been some bandying of words previously, but under special control of an officer on our side."