THE YPRES TIMES
243
at the best of times, even when having proper dug-outs at the back of the guns, but
on Passchendaele, with a thin piece of iron as shelter between yourself and a deluge
of 5.9's, it is indeed an experienceAbout this time we were engaged in firing on
a sector of the German trenches, and the nature of the country may be seen, when,
from the battery's position, it was possible for the gunners to observe the result
of each round for themselves.
Aerial duels were a daily occurrence. On one occasion an old R.E. type of
machine brought down a German fighter in flames, but I am afraid that usually
in such affairs the R.E. was the victim. The R.E. machine was used chiefly for
observation purposes, and was hardly suited to engage a German fighting machine.
On another day an unfortunate Allied airman got within range of the British
PhotoImperial War Museum, Crown Copyright.
6-in. HOWITZERS IN ACTION.
howitzers and disappeared in a cloud of splinters. Two Nieuports had to descend
hurriedly at the rear of the battery, and a bomb-carrying Gotha was brought down
behind us.
The position rapidly went from bad to worse, the swamp getting more like a
huge inland lake, and the activity on both sides working up to fever heat. On
December 8th I became one of the lucky ones with a disability," and left for
Ypres dressing station. As a last farewell from that sector of painful memories
a 4.2 missed the field ambulance by about three seconds, landing a few yards in
the rear amongst a squad of men and showering us with splinters.
Whilst convalescing, I heard that the battery had had a very rough time, and
my thoughts often went out to the few of my original friends who were still there.
C. D. C.
