Throughout the siege casualties were of daily occurrence, there being no place within the defences which was not under rifle fire. The majority of the enemy artillery fire was directed at our artillery positions near the brick kilns, and on the town itself. The front line received very little artillery fire, and it was generally less strenuous in the front line than in reserve, the latter entailing constant working parties day and night, as well as having to be in close support on completion of the night’s work. The men only had the clothes in which they stood up and two blankets, and consequently soon became lousy, as there was practically no opportunity of washing, all water having to be drawn from the river, which was some distance away and subject to heavy sniping. On December 24th the enemy made a determined attack on the fort, which he entered, and was only ejected after severe hand-to-hand fighting at 3 a.m. on the 25th. That evening the 76th, which was due for relief, received orders to move into the fort during the night, where it took over the north and west faces and repaired and improved the defences. It was again relieved on the 28th and had twenty-fours’ much-needed rest. [Sidenote: January, 1916.] Rain commenced falling on January 6th and added much to the difficulty of keeping the trenches and communications in good order, and to the discomfort of the men. News of the relieving force was now received daily and gave all ranks a feeling of optimism as to the early raising of the siege. On January 21st the river overflowed into the enemy trenches, which in turn overflowed into ours, and no amount of work could stop it. A retirement was therefore ordered to the Middle Line, which had been prepared for occupation in such an eventuality, but was already two or three feet deep in mud and water. Ammunition, stores and kits were moved with great difficulty owing to the depth of mud and water in the front line and communication trenches, which was almost up to the men’s necks. One havildar was drowned trying to rescue ammunition. The cold was also extreme and the men, having no means of drying their clothes, suffered heavily from exposure, 3 British officers and 50 men having to report sick. The enemy to our front had been forced by the water to retire 1,500 yards and valuable firewood was retrieved from his trenches by parties from the Battalion, after inflicting many casualties on him as he retired across the open. On the 29th horsemeat was first issued and all rations were much reduced. [Sidenote: February.] On February 16th a bund twenty feet thick was commenced all along the trenches in order to keep out the floods that were expected in March, and work on this continued nightly until it was finished.