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[Page 20]
of the wind, but fortunately, without effect. The cries of the elderly man had now ceased, but as I heard my mate assuring him he was all right, I thought he must have made an air passage to his head; but his continued silence made me leave the other man, and dig down towards his head. When I got there I found the poor fellow was still. Apparently the air he had, becoming foul with the sickening fumes of the explosive and perhaps a further blockage of the air passage, coupled with the heavy pressure on his chest, caused him to collapse. After releasing him I tried artificial respiration, but without result. His face was purple, but had somebody been there with a thorough knowledge of artificial respiration, he might have been pulled through.
Most of us retired from the spot as it was still being shelled, a little along the trench. I sat down with one of the men who had been buried. He was bruised on the legs and somewhat unerved and I was advising him to see the Medical Officer. He was sitting on my left and another man on his left who was also urging him to go. Suddenly a shrapnel shell burst over our heads, killing the third man. I thought he was killed too, until I spoke when he jumped up and ran along the trench. A glance at the other poor chap, was sufficient to show that he was beyond aid. His greatcoat was gashed across the back. His steel helmet, though but dinged by some of the shrapnel, was pierced - apparently by a steel piece of the shell, which had burst very close, passed through and out of his head into his chest. His mess tin lying near my leg, was shattered. The shock of the close explosion added to the fumes and their fatal result, made me feel very sick for a while, and after sitting some time I went to report. Several men had now been killed or wounded in our half Company. I had occasion to go on a message to the officers some time later when the bombardment had eased a little and on returning up the trench, saw a man lying dead on his face in the trench, with his back torn open. Something familiar in his figure caused me to bend down and turn his face. It was the same poor fellow who had already been buried and was sitting near me when the other man was killed. He had apparently been to or
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