I got the bearer party to take him off as soon as possible down the long path across the fields which led to the light railway, where he could be put on a truck.

Once while I was talking to the men in the shelter, a shell burst by the side of the road and ignited a pile of German ammunition.

At once there were explosions, a weird red light lit up the whole place, and volumes of red smoke rolled off into the starlit sky.

To my surprise, from a ditch on the other side of the road, a company of Highlanders emerged and ran further away from the danger of the exploding shells.

It was one of the most theatrical sights I have ever seen.