I'm hanged if it wasn't Dolly Riddell, who was our brigade machine-gun officer at Loos.

I had heard that the Germans had got him when they blew up a mine at the Quarries.
I had to act pretty quick, for his mouth was agape, and I saw he was going to speak.

The doctor was a yard ahead of me.
I stumbled and spilt his cards on the floor.

Then I kneeled to pick them up and gripped his knee.

His head bent to help me and I spoke low in his ear.
'I'm Hannay all right.