11 p.m., march
`` Tonight , December the 8th , trenches will be relieved at 12 midnight . No. 1 and No. 2 Platoons to parade at 10.30 , march to north end of the strand , and occupy trenches . '' That meant a six-mile march for those platoons -- three there and three back . `` No. 3 and No. 4 Platoons to parade at 11 p.m. , march to cliffs , descend rocks , and relieve trenches as soon as possible after midnight . '' I am in No. 3 Platoon , and I confess I shuddered . The rocks at the north end of the beach are abominably slippery . A year ago I should have hesitated about climbing down in broad daylight in the finest weather .