Before the Somme - "a pleasant interlude"

On 14 August, Sydney Williams was transferred to the Divisional Ammunition Column (DAC), attached to 'Z' Trench Mortar Battery (one of three TM batteries). On the 18th, they marched out of Armentieres heading towards the Somme, where the Allied offensive had already begun on 1 July, with the loss of 19,000 British soldiers in one day - "arguably the worst day in British military history". (NZ History - Battle of the Somme).

According to the official history of the New Zealand Field Artillery, before heading to the front line, the New Zealanders enjoyed good weather in a week's training in a "quiet and sheltered corner of the Somme Valley". Then, from the 29 August, they set out on a trek to the battlefield, which the history describes in idyllic tones:

For the artilleryman, who travels in greater ease than the heavily-burdened infantryman, a trek through new country in fine weather provides a pleasant interlude from the vicissitudes of life in the lines. Reveille sounds with the dawn, or earlier, and by the time breakfast is ready the horses have been watered and fed, and harnessed ready for an immediate start. Brigades move together, with a good interval between batteries, and every unit must be on the road at the appointed time. The early morning air is cool and invigorating; the horses are fresh, and swing steadily along with taut traces to the tune of jingling accoutrements and the rumble of the heavy vehicles of the long column half veiled in the morning mist. Every turn of the road brings something new to wonder at or to admire; and the driver sitting easily in his saddle exchanges sage observations with the gunner marching in rear of his gun. The ten-minute halts mark the passing of the hours; and then, if the journey be not a short one, comes the mid-day halt to water and feed the horses, and munch what the orders term "the unconsumed portion of the day's ration." A column on the march is always preceded by a billeting officer, who, riding hot-foot in advance, has the available billeting accommodation ready to apportion to units by the time they arrive at the night's resting-place. Trekking in heavy weather is disagreeable for the men and severe on the horses, which very frequently have to stand in the mud in some exposed horse lines after a hard journey on heavy roads.

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Yes, at times perhaps one could say, 'Oh what a lovely war!"