One Soldier's Great war: The Novelty Wears off: When the Novelty of war Wears off, The Hell of war Kicks in (The Great war‪)‬

ON WEDNESDAY, January 12, 1916, in Sherbrooke, Quebec, Duart Vercoe McLean enlisted in the 35th Battery. As he had been born on July 9, 1898, he was only 17 years old at the time and underage for enlistment. He was attending McGill University in Montreal, where his family lived. He enlisted in the 35th Battery because he was more likely to be accepted into the army there than in Montreal since the Sherbrooke recruiters were reputedly less inquisitive of age. On January 18, 1916 he found out that the 35th Battery had become the 35th Howitzer Battery. Duart McLean's diary was provided to Esprit de Corps by his son, Archie, who himself continued the proud family tradition by also serving his country. This is the fourth in a series of excerpts from the diary. Wednesday, August 2, 1916, Front Line near White Chateau: Up at 5:50 and left at 6:30 with Godkin [Gunner John Henry Godkin] for OP [observation post]. Walked fast and got to the trench at 7:45, sweating. Fixed 5 breaks in the wire and inspected all wire in the trenches. Too hazy for us to observe from our post so we just bummed around until about 12:45. Got in good communication. Left at 6:30. After arriving home without any excitement, 18 pounders started falling in our own trenches and nearly got Fleet [Lt. Robertson Fleet] and myself.