Geoff Hogg was in a slit trench with Cpl Drummond whom he had known for some time before this incident.

Cpl Drummond told Geoff to bail out the water in the trench while he got some straw from a nearby barn to put in the bottom of their trench, making it more comfortable. He thought he would be OK as there had been no reports of enemy activity in the area.

He saw Cpl Drummond leave the barn laden with straw under both arms – then fall after hearing rifle shots.

Geoff knew there was a sniper about and immediately ran for help zig zagging any snipers that may be out there as he had been trained to do, then dived into bramble bushes cutting himself all over.

Smoke was sent into the area where Drummond had fallen but when the stretcher bearers went in, the sniper (who they never found) started firing through the smoke at them without success.

Medics looked after Geoff and gave him some brandy.

He asked how Drummond was and was told not to worry about him and that he was OK.