I shouted to the men to clear out if possible. Only one man and myself jumped over the parapet. I seized an English rifle lying on the parapet and fired down the trench. I then jumped into a shell hole about 15 yards from the traverse. It was almost full of water, in which I stood up to my neck. The other man was shot.
I heard the Germans bombing this circular traverse continuously for about fifteen minutes. At first the men I left were crying out, but after about ten minutes this ceased.
(8) I was over an hour in the shell hole, and left it after dark.
2nd Lieut. G. T. G——, of D Co., 8th —— Highlanders, was the first person to whom I told my experiences. This was at about 7.45 p.m.
(9) The second person to whom I told them was Capt. J. E. A——, also of the 8th ——, whom I saw at about 8 p.m. the same evening.
(Signature of deponent) D. M——, Sergeant.
Sworn at Poperinghe in Belgium on active service this first day of October, 1915.
Before me,
G. M. H. S——, Captain,
D.A.A.G., 1st Army,
Commissioner for Oaths.
IX
REPORTS RELATIVE TO THE USE OF INCENDIARY BULLETS BY GERMAN TROOPS[96]
To:
The Commanding Officer,
2nd Batt. The —— Regiment.
From:
2nd Lieut. L. E. S——,
B Co., 2nd —— Regiment.