Welsh Newspapers

Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles

Hide Articles List

14 articles on this Page

Advertising

Llandilograban Concert. !…

TERRITORIAL'S DEATH.I

Advertising

War and Politics. I

I War Against Consumption.

Advertising

Uangorse Eisteddfod. I

INo More tndigestion.I

I County Trtbuna!s

Advertising

Remarkable Hay Boy.!

News
Cite
Share

Remarkable Hay Boy.! Shot from Back to Front. I ASKED FOR SERGT. RHYS HARDING. I GRAPHIC R.A.M.C. STORY. I Under date, 7th inst.. Mr Hhys Harding, form- erly of Hay, wrot<* Mr T. Stokoe: (Hay) as fol- lows :—"Very many thanks for your long and in- teresting letter which I received when I was up in the zone of action for a week's practical in- struction. It was quite, a link with old times' to read all your news. It is not often I get tetters like yours, and you can't'realise how much one appreciates a "newsy" letter. I have had what you might call my baptism of ure,' and, although things are fairly quiet now 'up the line,' stilt they were sufficiently lively for my taste. The base of operations of a field am- bulance is the main dressing station. This re- ceives cases from the advanced dressing station which (in the case of the field ambulance to which I was attached) is fed by three first aid posts which are situated in the reserve trenches, and are in charge of the regimental medical officers. Two, or more bearers of the R.A.M.C. are always ready at the first aid posts to bring the wounded down to the A.D.S., and, as they use wheeled down to the A. D the ?istance, they are not stretchers, owing to the distance, they are not able to come down by the communication trenches, but must use the road. The particular road our bearers used was swept every night from sunset to daybreak by a German machine gun, aptly christened by one of our chaps 'the Prudential man,' because he's always knocking at the door. Even the infantry men admit that our bearers have a mighty dangerous job, in fact, they say it is safer in the first line trenches if you keep Nc)ur head down. Of course, the bearers are relieved every twenty four hours, and it was one of my jobs to go with a party round the three posts. Some of the old stagers told me it w&s a quiet morning, but what, with our own and German shells exchanging com- pliments over our heads and occasional snipers potting, not to mention our anti-aircraft guns barking at some trespassers over our lines the peaceful quietness was not very marked. A number of cases were brought down during the time that we were there and some were rather serious. One man. In particular, had been shot through the left. femoral artery, and had bled considerably before being picked up. The M.O. at the A.D.S. worked from 3 o'clock in the morn- ing until 12 noon to get the man strong enough for amputation, and then they almost gave up hope. but. at last, it was decided to evacuate him to the Co. 's cleajing station, and I have hea.rd since that a successful operation was performed. and the man is getting on well. That sort of thing makes one proud to be a member of the R.A.M.C I am now looking after a scubies hospital until we go into action.. It isn't a very savoury job, but I suppose it is a part of the 'bit' that we are out here to do. Another section of this ambulance has just re- turned from a week's instruction 'up the lim.' and a remarkable thing occurred. While two of our chaps were waiting for cases at a first aid post. when a, youngster walked in carrying part of his kit. They asked what he wanted and he said "the beggars have shot me." They took him down to the A.D.S., where, on examination. they found he had been shot through from back to front, glancing round his ribs, missing his heart but apparently piercing the lung. While they were dressing him he enquired if they knew me. When they told him they did he asked them to remember Bernard Jones to me, and his whole anxiety was to know whether he would be sent down to where I was. The M.O. said he was the pluckiest lad who had ever passed through his hands. I think he wi!! get on alright. He will probably oe sent home. It is a curious coinci- dence. I have been trying to find him ever since we have been over here and we were within a few miles of each other a-H the time, and then some of our chaps were the first to attend to him."

From the Pouttry Yard.I !…

Advertising