Maurice Howard

Yes, but coming back, you couldn't get the feel of it, I mean, I suppose, it's like going into a dark corner, not knowing what was there. But as soon as the light went on, you could see what was happening. And light, was in your find. You got the feel of where he was and what he was doing, and what actually he'd been doing whilst you'd been away, kind of thing. And once you'd got that, you kind of felt better. But funny enough, you wasn't worrying all the time... it seems funny that you could be sitting out there, and 'Gerry's' shell's would be coming over, you were probably stationed amongst a load of 25-pounders, which at one time we were, and 'Gerry' come over one night, one plane, and he dropped anti-personnel bombs, and it played havoc with our regiment, and some of the gunners. It killed old Lotty Collins, our QM... you know, things like that., You don't realise, but it happened and I took a dive under my carrier that time, I heard it - they go off like a machine gun, as they scatter - shrapnel - flying all over the place, yes, and they killed... I forget how many that was, but like I said, blow this! .... shooting at this lot that's firing at them - You're in amongst that it's not very nice, but where you're cramped for space, you've got to go...