7147. PTE. I. THOMASSON. L.N.LAN.R

STILLNESS OF DEATH

I was bandaging one of the Cameron Highlanders when a bullet passed straight through my knee and into the calf of another Cameron, so he is carrying my bullet somewhere.

Our troops had retired from the position, and ten of us got into a pit close by, where we stayed until dusk, when a Guards officer made a red cross with blood on a handkerchief which he fastened to his stick. This was seen by a party of Germans, who came up and shot the two officers and then the remainder of our party. I lay quiet, expecting to receive my quietus, but a bullet went right through my arm and shoulder.

I waited a while and two or three English soldiers came. One bandaged my shoulder, and there I stayed in the rain until dawn. I managed to struggle out and attract the attention of some South Wales Borderers. A large party of Germans coming, the Borderers retired to their trenches, and the fighting began again.

I was again left to the tender mercies of the enemy, but this time I lay as if dead, and they evidently took it that I was, for they were quite close to me in the same pit. To lie on your back and feign death for any length of time requires a lot more doing than I thought. It appeared to me a week, although it was not more than a few hours.

I see there is an officer, Lieutenant Goldie, reported missing. He is not missing in the military sense, because the pigs blew his brains out just before they shot me a second time.