During part of the war my work included salving and destroying "dud"
shells and bombs in the back areas. On one occasion in an air-raid a
"dud" bomb glanced through the side of a hut occupied by some fitters
belonging to an M.T. section of R.E.'s.
This particular bomb (weighing about 100 lb.), on its passage through
the hut had torn the corner of a pillow on which the owner's head was
lying and carried feathers for several feet into the ground.
We dug about ten feet down and then, as the hole filled with water as
fast as we could pump it out, we gave it up, the tail, which had become
detached a few feet down, being the only reward of our efforts.
While we were in the midst of our operations the owner of the
pillow--very "bucked" at being unhurt after such a narrow shave--came
to look on, and with a glance down the hole and a grin at me said,
"Well, sir, if I'd known it 'ud give yer so much trouble, I'd 'a caught
it!"--_Arthur G. Grutchfield (late Major (D.A.D.O.S. Ammn.) R.A.O.C.),
Hill Rise, Sanderstead Road, Sanderstead, Surrey._