If the machine gun was merely pointed at them but not fired why would Private Keating write "fortunately, no one was killed"

You, as always, are putting your particular spin on it and not reading what is actually written.

In the early hours in December do you think they could clearly see it was just being pointed and not actually fired.

Do you really think one of the officers shouted Coooeeeeee !!! Come on boys, back to your trenches. No doubt he made them tea and crumpets and told them they were naughty boys.

As it happens Captain Ian Colquhoun a Company Commander and the Commanding Officer of the 1st Scots Guards, Miles Barnes, were taken before a Court of Enquiry and were later Court Martialled. Barnes was acquitted and Colquhoun received a reprimand which wasn't followed up.