3 day’s rest and attack on Devil’s Trench

2nd May
Day spent resting and cleaning
In the evening moved to trenches near the Bois des Boeufs
3rd & 4th May
Cleaning and resting
4th May evening
Moved to Brown Line, west of Monchy
5th to 10th May
Digging communication trench west of Monchy
Night of the 5th/6th May
Letter to his sister and my grandmother, Helen Violet Hunt
Describes meeting his brother Donald (Major Donald Hunt, C.O. 4th SAI)

…
The General has again put me in for a D.S.O. & I’m big enough not to be even grateful…. I don’t want a D.S.O. I do long for a Legion of Honour.
…
Donald goes up tonight, just on our left, to a badly straffed place like this salubrious village.
10th May
Relieved the 1st N.F’s in trenches east of Monchy
11th May
Monchy heavily shelled
Difficult working conditions due to enemy activity
12th May
6pm barrage on Devil’s trench
Attacked enemy under cover of the barrage
Met with heavy M.G. fire at junction of Bit Lane and Devil’s trench which stopped the advance
Heavy casualties
C.O. (Lt.Col. Hunt) went up to the front to complete reorganization
Casualties: 5 officers, 93 ORs
13th May
Enemy guns active all day
Stretcher bearers active removing wounded from previous day’s attack
14th May
4 pm bombardment of Devil’s Trench followed by enemy bombardment of Monchy
Night time relief by 1st King’s Own Scottish Borderers
15th May
Collected by the cookers on the Cambrai Rd near Tilloy. Hot tea & rum & hot breakfast
Moved off in lorries to huts in Duisans

Casualties during occupation of Monchy trenches of 11th to 14th May