18 15th they would receive light fire in return – a good indicator of low morale on the German side. All members of the Brigade suffered during this winter however, despite the high tempo they maintained. Australians, far from home, living in hell on earth as well as experiencing the full might of a European winter. Once the ground had frozen solid the shells became less accurate, as they would skirt or bounce off the rock hard soil. This also meant they couldn’t dig further during this time, everything was hard as bedrock. On the 29th and 30th of December, however, the Germans surprisingly stepped up their responses to the barrages – firing several 8” rounds this time. 8” shells were the epitome of destruction. One such shell landed near the 103rd Battery’s position, striking with a very bad detonation that resulted in craters 15 feet wide and 11 feet deep. This sort of pattern of constant barraging would continue throughout January, with the 103rd Battery firing around 100 to 200 rounds a day. A year of blood, sweat and tears to be sure. From the raising of the battery in the searing heat of Egypt, training and gallivanting – to the restless travel on ships, trains and gruelling marches, those who made it to the end of the year had experienced a myriad of emotions, tribulations and triumphs. Moving to the other side of the world from their various homes in search of adventure and glory, it’s no small secret the Anzacs as a whole suffered horrible conditions and the harsh realities of war. In spite of all the terrifying trials the battery faced, they still held a reputation for an unbreakable spirit, one that was infectious enough to be written about in various war diaries.
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