A 5·9 had burst on the parados of our trench, and caused--as 5·9's
usually did--a bit of a mess.
A brand-new officer came around the trench, saw the damage, and asked:
"Whatever caused this mess?"
Without the slightest suspicion of a smile a Cockney private answered:
"An explosive bullet, sir!"--_C. T. Coates, 46 Hillingdon Street,
London, S.E.17._
[Illustration: "... an explosive bullet, sir!"]