August 5, 1918 – Full diary entry:

“On guard most of the time. We shoot whenever we wish.

Are under fire nearly all the time. Have not been able to locate any mech. guns yet. Are entrenched 1500 yds. from G. lines, in pine woods.”

Machine guns were a relatively new addition to warfare; they had been invented in the 1880s but had only come into regular use over the last four years. The British felt the machine gun was unnecessary; it was only after the Germans showed how devastating a weapon it could be that it became a staple on the British side.

This map from the Truman Library shows the varied width of No-Man’s Land. Robert was fortunate to be that far from the German lines, I think.

Where was Robert today? See the timeline.