Part 19

When near the Sea of Galilee there was discovered a dump of aerial bombs, each approximately 25 lb. in weight. Thinking it quicker and attended by less risk than the usual detonation, I decided to drop them in the sea.

About ten bombs were placed aboard a small boat, and I with three others pushed out about two hundred yards. Two of the bombs were dropped overboard without ever a thought of danger when suddenly there was a heavy, dull explosion beneath us, and boat, cargo, and crew were thrown into the air.

Nobody was hurt. All clung to the remains of the boat, and we were brought back to our senses by one of our Cockney companions, who remarked: "Even Davy Jones won't have the ruddy fings."--_A. W. Owen (late Corporal, Desert Corps), 9 Keith Road, Walthamstow, E.17._

"Parti? Don't blame 'im!"

One summer afternoon in 1915 I was asked to deliver an official letter to the Mayor of Poperinghe. The old town was not then so well known as Toc H activities have since made it. At the time it was being heavily strafed by long-range guns. Many of the inhabitants had fled.

I rode over with a pal. The door of the _mairie_ was open, but the building appeared as deserted as the great square outside.

Just then a Belgian gendarme walked in and looked at us inquiringly. I showed him the buff envelope inscribed "_Monsieur le Maire_," whereupon he smiled and said, "_Parti_."

At that moment there was a deafening crash outside and the air was filled with flying debris and acrid smoke. In a feeling voice my chum quietly remarked, "And I don't blinkin' well blame 'im, either!"--_F. Street, 13 Greenfield Road, Eastbourne._

_Printed in Great Britain by Hasell, Watson & Viney, Ltd., London and Aylesbury._

_Published by Associated Newspapers, Ltd., London, E.C.4._

Transcriber's Notes

Obvious errors of punctuation and diacritics repaired.

Hyphenation was made consistent.

P. 49: "Dorian Lake" changed to "Doiran Lake".

P. 103: "Hindenbrug" changed to "Hindenburg".

End of Project Gutenberg's 500 of the Best Cockney War Stories, by Various