May 20, 1918
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The expected has happened, and we have been shelled out of our station. Shells had come over at various intervals, but at 7.45 a.m. one hit the corner of our dressing room, smashing the end of the building and covering everything with a deluge of bricks and dust. I was getting dressed at the time, and then received orders to evacuate, so proceeded to pack up and send off the stuff to Bussy about a mile away. C. Section in the meantime had opened up a station on the road to Amiens as had been arranged for if necessary.
Then came the climax. At the other end of the building was the operating room and they had just finished taking a man’s leg off when a 9 inch hit the place and filled the room with bricks, dirt and broken glass, and here I had a remarkable escape, for which I thank my Maker. I was standing in a direct line with the shell which burst on contact, the nose-cap only penetrating any distance. It tore its way through the staircase, missed my back by a fraction and penetrated through a brick wall into the room in which I slept.
The place was filled with flying bricks and dust, but I was untouched and came out of it unrecognisable owing to the covering of brick dust I had. The man who was being operated upon was rushed away to a cellar and then finished off and will I trust, recover. The nose-cap was a huge affair and weighed several pounds, being quite hot when I picked it up some time later. The packing up was proceeded with and before an hour was passed all gear, dressings and drugs had been sent off and I marched away with my men to Bussy.
It was an extraordinary escape for all, as only 2 of our fellows were hit, and they were only mildly but outsiders suffered more, 3 M.P.’s being killed. On arriving at Bussy I proceeded to sort out and arrange the stuff, send over necessary dressings to the new station, and in general put matters square. This was all finished before night, the Colonel arranging for B. and C. Sections to carry on the M.D.S. and my section to have a spell. I had to send men back to sew up the bodies which were buried about 5 p.m. It is now close on to 10 p.m. and I’m tired after a strenuous day, so will turn in.
Several of our own chaps down to an attack of fever like trench fever, 10 being in a temporary hospital we established. We have never had so many ill before. The big offensive is surely due.