This morning at 6.45 we had another air raid. We soon cleared the camp
of the patients. Three aeroplanes came over in all, and dropped about
fifteen bombs on Kragujevatz. Five fell in the arsenal, but little
damage was done; several fell round about the station. Several of the
station men got into a truck for shelter. One shell fell just outside
smashing up the pavement along the line. A piece of the shell went
through the truck; no one was injured, and it was given to me
afterwards. The air raid lasted about one hour. When all was over Dr.
May and Dr. Berry asked me to take them to see the aircraft guns.
These were about seven minutes' walk from the camp on the top of a
hill; two of the Serbian camps were also near by. I knew several of
the officers at the camp. On arriving we were met by some of them;
they took us round and showed us the guns and the shells, explaining
and describing all about them. There are three very large guns, and
these took the 12 inch shells; they were of French make, and two
smaller ones which were captured from the Turks in the last war.
We had only been up on the firing ground about five minutes when the
signal was given that enemy aeroplanes were sighted. All men were at
their posts in a second, and it was splendid to see the order and
discipline.
It was no use our retiring, as it would not have been safe, so we
stood by while the firing was going on. The vibration and noise were
terrific; one could not see even these large shells coming out of the
guns, only fire and smoke. I took a photograph while the firing was
going on. Five bombs were dropped in Kragujevatz, one on our camp,
which fortunately did not explode. It was only a few yards away from
the night nurse's tent and mine, otherwise we should have had our poor
tents in pieces. Two bombs fell on the magazine, destroying lots of
our stores; three tents were burnt, but the fire was soon
extinguished. Nine 7 lb. tins of marmalade were smashed to pieces;
marmalade was all over the floor, windows, ceilings and walls, making
the place in the most terrible mess; other stores were also spoilt;
pieces of shrapnel were found in the sugar. About eighty shells were
fired on the aeroplanes, and it got so hot for them that they soon
fled. The air raid was over at 10, so our patients were allowed to
return.
In the evening we had a farewell party, given by one of the sisters,
as she was leaving for Lady Paget's hospital, and twenty of our unit
were leaving for the Bulgarian frontier with Mrs. Stobart, and they
were to go to Perot. They left at 10 p.m., and slept in the train all
night; the train left at 7.20 in the morning. They have taken five
motor ambulances, three bullock wagons, one kitchen that was captured
from the Austrians by the Serbs, a few bandages and medical stores. A
Serbian army was supplying all the other necessary medical stores and
equipments for "The Flying Field Hospital." I was to have gone, but
owing to having had typhoid was not allowed. It was arranged that the
doctors, nurses, cooks and orderlies should change over every month,
so that all could get a variety of work.