During the general advance on the Somme in August 1918 our platoon
became isolated from the rest of the company.
We had been under heavy shell-fire for about three hours, and when at
last things seemed to have quietened down, a German plane came over. We
immediately jumped for cover and were concealed from view.
The plane had only circled round a couple of times when a Cockney
private, unable to resist the temptation any longer, jumped up and had
a pot at it.
He had fired three rounds when the N.C.O. pulled him down and called
him a fool for giving away our position.
The Cockney turned round and replied, "Blimey, ain't I in this blinkin'
war as well as 'im?"--_E. Purcell (late 9th Royal Fusiliers), 4
Lyndhurst Grove, Peckham, S.E.15._