Left Ypres for front line with Cpl Richardson D.R. who was out for adventure. Made a tour from Ramparts along China Wall, Halfway-House, Yeomanry-Post –(along this route there were scores of disbanded Ross Rifles) – Maple Copse, Maple Lodge, Dormy House (around which flying bullets came thick & fast) to Zillebeke along the Lake (at the Bund a shrapnel shell burst overhead killing the sentry there) along open country to Lille Road. Arr: Ramparts @ 12 am.
*Ross Rifle – By July of 1916 Sir Douglas Haig, newly appointed Commander in Chief of the BEF had ordered the replacement of all Ross rifles with Lee-Enfield rifles. The Ross rifles had been problematic for Canadian troops as they performed poorly in trench warfare. They were easily clogged up with mud and dirt rendering them useless. Lee-Enfield rifles were much more dependable in the dirty muddy conditions.
