Part 1 from letter exert of Gilbert Gregory McCarthy Mitchell - Auckland Battalion 12/2392

"Monday 25th was our first great day. There was little or no sun but the air was crisp and we felt like business after a rough breakfast of bully biscuits. Before we did anything Lieutenant Loudon, the officer to whom Corporal Parker and I were attached, showed us a new plan of the trenches and going up to a slight rise we took a good look at the country and got our bearings. There was an ammunition dump at the head of Abbey Road and towards 8 oclock the whole battery set out for Grove Alley where we had our first line, each man carrying six rounds. We had to pass out of Flers and up the Abbey Road towards the line, and found this to be a risky undertaking. There was a trench running up the road but it was only a couple of feet deep and offered little protection ..."