Horton and many other diarists tried to recount the sights and sounds of the war. The loud explosions would light up the night sky as if it were day, and the noise of heavy artillery and bursting shells was incredible.

Four days after the disaster at Fromelles, Australian troops went into battle in the Somme at the village of Pozières. Under heavy bombardment, casualties grew over the next few weeks, eventually totalling 23,000.

The soldiers would sing when they marched and when they were resting. Just before arriving at the battlefield, Horton wrote: ‘About six o’clock we stopped on the hill overlooking Albert. Here we had tea and then my old platoon, 13 platoon, gathered round for one last singsong before going into the line. All the old favourites were sung, “Mary”, “Thora”, “I Want To Go Home” and “The Devil’s Ball”.’