"JUGGLING" WITH BOMBS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16032, 25 September 1915, Page 2 (Supplement)

"JUGGLING" WITH BOMBS

WAITED FOR A SECOND ONE. Amusing stories are contained in a letter from Private H. MerryVeather, sth Yorkshire (territorials), who writes — Our trenches were only about 30yds from those of the enemy, so it was a case of keeping your head down, or your "number was up." The Germans ha\e had a nasty habit of " lobbing" grenades of all sorts over to us. Though we are so near to danger, we still see the funny side of life, and have many a good laugh. One of our fellows was on watch when over came a bomb clean into the trench. It did not buret at once, as the fuse had i not burned through, so he had time to scoot round a corner into safety. Later he was relating his experience to our captain, who, by the way, has received the D.5.0., and another officer who was near at the time quite seriously said, "Why did you not pick it up and throw it back over the parapet?" "Oh," he replied, "I was waiting for another to come over, and then 1 would have juggled with them." On another occasion the sappers, who had got everything prepared, came out of the mine to the rear trenches. After the explosion there was a lot of tiring, and grenades wero falling all over the place. We then stood to arms excitedly awaiting event: " Away, lad," said one miner to his chum in the Newcastle dialect, "We have blown 'em up. Let'e have ou» dinner*. Aw*j,"