The guns
Even before George Ramage had reached the Western Front by train, he had been aware of the ever-increasing noise of the big guns.
Ramage's diary entry for 18 April 1915 describes his first sight of heavy artillery in action — and his realisation that the Gordon Highlanders are bogged down in a general stalemate:
'Clanging boom of big guns & their quick broad flash such as you see sometimes in iron foundry when door of chamber of molten metal is opened … Gordons have been in this position for months & the war here seems to be one of mutual annihilation — neither side can advance — each side keeps sleepless watch day and night — the side with half a dozen more men will probably win according to elementary arithmetic if no other factor to decide the war.'
