THE YPRES TIMES
237
At 4.05 the attackers rushed the position, this time meeting no opposition. But
two occupants remained alive and these were passed back to the trench. Three
mangled forms located among the debris bore mute testimony of the effectiveness of
the bombardmenta further body was discovered, subsequently.
The raiders, amid the inferno of rifle, machine-gun and shell fire concentrated
by the enemy, having satisfied themselves that no other living German remained,
mined the position against further occupation, withdrew; bringing with them seven
rifles and a bag of bombs.
After a check-up had been made it was found that only two casualties had been
sustained by the attacking party and these were but slightly wounded.
Photol [Canadian Official War Photograph, Crown Copyright
HYDE PARK CORNER (PLOEGSTEERT WOOD)
Following the short but decisive action, it was necessary to withdraw the gun
from the front line with the least possible delay, for which purpose it was considered
advisable to run the armoured car right up to the gun regardless of risk. However,
in following this course unforeseen hindrances arose. Within two hundred yards of
the front trench the car ran foul of a cave-in and became ditched. The driver ran
down to the gun crew and informed them of his plight. A second car was 'phoned for
while the gun crew proceeded to the scene of trouble and commenced to extricate
the one that was ditched.
The second car did not get as far as the first. Its wheels sank through a planked
bridge that had been thrown across the reserve trench and there it stuck.
In the meantime, number 1 car had been rightedbacked to the trenchgun
hooked on and was on its wayonly to find that the road was blocked by car number
2. Nevertheless, by a precarious manoeuvre a passage was effected. The gun was