Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Sam Baker was a great mate of my Great Uncle. Edwin Harold Pleasance.

Harold wrote a letter during his 3 1/2 years service and fought along side Sam.

in one letter Harold describes getting injured in a terrible battle. Even though Harold is suffering from a nasty wound to his arm where a bullet passed through, his thoughts go to his mate Sam....

Harold Pleasance 01/08/1916.
As soon as our bombardment opened out and it was a terrific one the Huns knew what was happening and before the first wave moved off machine guns, high explosive , shrapnel and rifle fire barred our way but on you go just the same and you will be surprised to hear that you go over at a steady walk. I went with the second wave and by the light of the flares we tried to form a decent line. I had only gone a few yards when a big shell knocked me rotten for the time being, up and off again and the next trouble was that I walked into a sap but I went up to my knees in slime and had some trouble in getting out. By this time the first line had settled what few Huns were in the first trench, so I had no experience with Huns. We got to our objective and tried to form some sort of line which was difficult as many had overgone the mark. I was just preparing to dig when bang went something against my wrist, I looked at it and found my shirt and coat covered in blood, a chap put bandage on it so I then lay down and thought out what was my best plan. I was useless for further work so I decided to crawl back, mind you bullets and everything were as thick as ever so it was risky to stand up but I started off, but to my horror I did not know the way in the darkness and I then got really scared as I was on my own. After going for a few yards I heard groans from a shell hole so I made for it and here were four (4) other wounded and also lost. One poor chap we had to leave there a his leg was smashed to atoms. By jingo it was terrible the number of wounded out there who could not crawl in and who had to wait for stretcher bearer. After crawling round for what seemed a life time we found our front line and once there we made for the dressing station, but on the way down we had another nasty experience as all of a sudden we started heaving up and all felt sick, we did not jerry for minute, but then it dawned on us they were sending over gas shells. So we helped one another on with our gas helmets and so relieved the trouble. Can you picture me going down the sap with a long beard on me. blood all over my coat and trousers and my legs covered in mud and a wounded man leaning on my shoulder and so the crowd reached the station.
We passed through 3 dressing stations having the wounds attended to and then took that train to that God forsaken place. Etaples, where I am now writing this letter with my left hand. We got here about 6 p.m. and saw a Dr. and he probed my wound and it tickled me up some. He put on my ticket to be X Rayed in the morning for foreign body and fracture. The X Ray process was very interesting as I could see through my arm and see that the bullet had gone through but splintered a bone. I cannot straighten my fingers and it is rather painful but I would not think of complaining as so many have awful wounds. I am worrying how my poor cobbers are getting on. I fear for them as they would be bombarded all the next day. Sammy Baker & Davey and lots of others, I wonder how they are. The slaughter is something cruel. The bullet went in 4 inches up the front of the wrist and passed out about 8 at the back of the arm. It is lovely the hospital treatment after the trench life and when you hear a lovely nurse say "sit down there's a dear' you wonder if you are dreaming.

David Pleasance 6/7/2026