We were resting in Poperinghe in December 1915. One morning about 4.30
a.m. we were called out and rushed to entrain for Vlamertinghe because
Jerry was attacking.
The train was packed with troops, and we were oiling our rifle bolts
and checking our ammunition to be ready for action. We had not
proceeded far when Jerry started trying to hit the train with some
heavy shells. Several burst very close to the track.
There was one young chap in our compartment huddled in a corner looking
rather white. "They seem to be trying to hit the train," he said.
"Darkie" Webb, of Poplar, always cheerful and matter-of-fact, looked
across at the speaker and said, "'It the train? No fear, mate, them's
only signals; there's fog on the line."--_B. Pigott (late Essex Regt.),
55 Burdett Avenue, Westcliff-on-Sea._