Our first big engagement was a counter-attack to recapture the trenches
lost by the K.R.R.'s and R.B.'s on July 30, 1915, when "Jerry" used
liquid fire for the first time and literally burned our chaps out.
To get into action we had to go across open country in full view of
the enemy. We began to get it "in the neck" as soon as we got to "Hell
Fire Corner," on our way to Zillebeke Lake. Our casualties were heavy,
caused by shell fire, also by a German aeroplane which was flying very
low overhead and using its machine gun on us.
My pal, Wally Robins (later awarded M.M., promoted corporal, and killed
at Lens), our company humorist, was looking up at the 'plane when a
shell landed, killing several men in front of him.
As he fell I thought he too had caught it. I rushed to him anxiously
and said, "Are you hurt?"
This was his reply: "I should think I am. I wish they would keep their
bloomin' aeroplanes out of the way. If I hadn't been looking up at that
I shouldn't have fallen over that blinkin' barbed wire stake."--_E. W.
Fellows, M.M. (late Corporal, 6th Battn., D.C.L.I.), 33 Dunlace Road,
Clapton, E.5._