Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 59]
of bullets, a General was walking about – "Your puttee's undone, young man, " he said – "Yes sir, that's all right, " I replied, "I'll soon fix that up, but for God's sake, take cover; you'll be killed." Every second I expected to see him hit, but not until he had done up my puttee for me would he move – then, with an amused chuckle, he passed his hand over the top of his cap, at the same time remarking "That was a pretty near thing" – a bullet had singed the top of his cap.
On my way up the hill I much wondered what I would do when I got to the top – the Corporal of our signallers ordered all the signallers to the rear; this struck me as being curious, so I asked him whose orders – he said "Lieut.Southern" – so I went down the gully to see what I could do for some of the wounded. It was impossible to walk between them, they were in such heaps.
One sergeant, Caldewell, came tearing along, badly wounded but full of spirits – "My !" he said but they're willing up there." Another poor fellow, his right hand shot away, called out, "God, but I've done my duty. Is that you, Silas old chap; I've done my duty, haven't I?"
I was wondering what our officers were doing for signallers, so determined the reach them, orders or otherwise – my nerves were quite gone, but still I determined to make the effort.
On my way up the Hill, a large number of men were lying flat