In Colonel Ward's was a live Christmas turkey, over which a sentry is posted day and night.

At first the rumour spread that the bird was mortally wounded; its thigh fractured, its liver penetrated.

But about midday public alarm was allayed by the news that the invaluable creature could be seen strutting about and stiffening its feathers as usual.

It had not even suffered from shock.

The second shot went through Sir Henry Rawlinson's office, which he had just left, and shattered the Headquarters' larder, depriving the Staff of butter for the rest of the siege.