It was a strange scene.

In the distance we heard the roar of the battle, and here, in the dim light of the hollow-sounding aisles, were shadowy figures huddled up on chairs or lying on the floor.

Once the silence was broken by a loud voice shouting out with startling suddenness, "O God! stop it." I went over to the man.

He was a British sergeant.

He would not speak, but I think in his terrible suffering he meant the exclamation as a kind of prayer.