Three ammunition wagons moved slowly towards our guns. Crash! A 5.9 fell in front of the leading horses; a cloud of dense, black smoke arose and blotted the picture from view. The smoke cleared, and the little column was still moving slowly forward, undisturbed and indifferent. Crash! Crash! Two more shells burst by the side of the second wagon; the smoke cleared; the horses were startled and giving trouble, but once again the defiant little column moved slowly forward, indifferent and undismayed.
We continued to watch the plucky little column, now obscured by the black smoke of the bursting shells, then again emerging from the smoke, heedless of danger.
Those men were human. How could they stand it with such calm and determined indifference? The answer was the guns: the guns must be fed; and British grit and discipline were unconquerable. The army is wonderful.
At this moment I received a message calling me to headquarters, and I at once went to find my C.O.
"Well, had a good rest?" he asked.
"Not much, sir."
"Stuff and nonsense; get your map out."
I spread my map out on my knees and took a note-book out of my pocket.
The C.O. pointed on the map with his pencil:
"We are here; the —— Regiment is there."