A CLOSE SHAVE

Marlborough Express, Volume XLIX, Issue 250, 21 October 1915, Page 5

A CLOSE SHAVE

HEADQUARTERS STA FF 'fl NARROW ESCAPE.

Writing'from Gallii>oli, Pr,.TaHiotj Dean-of Sydney, who has"since been reporter! woundorl, sa.ys:- — "The headquarters "xtaif of thfi 3rd Battalion had a close shave of being wiped out. yesterday.

''This little; company has for the last 13 weeks messed together in .':> dug-out opposite .headquarters, winch | was protected by biscuit boxes and kerosene tins filled with earth ;uk! sandbags. On one side the dug-out was quite open, and it luul tiio slender protection overhead oi' a single blanket. Passing shells have frequently provided much amusement and not a little excitement whilst an I occasional bullet has found its wa/y into the little sanctum. Yesterday at dinner Colonel suggested that the. mess should move to unother place a, few yards away. Tea. was. proceeding quite happily in the new (lujr-out about 7 o'clock, -wlien tho liitie ('O'>ipany hoard a- terrific oxd?o----sion, and :r.ninj; out. to see what Jia-d happened found the -old dug-out Hterailly in ruins. A l>ii>; howiixiM' shell line! buried itself und'u1 the ha.v--ricadtv and, explofiiny:, had scattered (he s'U)db:i;?;s jind boxes iv every direction, le-jvinij: n g;i)>i"J' hol'."* in the ground whore it had p.Mietrated. The siirht ol tlie ruirs a-( first <"r« atcd consternation, but 'his win nuiv-klv (ui'JK'd info niutua.l congriiniia'tons nvd :inii!sement on the p-irt of ih.'wo! wbo 1-mI -^o unwittingly <>ui\vitted ti'.e wily Ttirii. "AV.-tr is fill of excitjug if i(K':;>s I .".nd h-iirbre-idll; e=-c:;;>cs. ".nd thi< is I \v'i:<i Km'v'i^-. us going anvl hrppy '.'■'-] ' spiu^ of ;ili t)>.e hardships.-" j