The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1918-04-29
FORMER LOCAL BOY
IN SHRAPNEL SHOWER
Raymond Collins of 1O1st Ammunition
Train Writes His Parents from
France of His Experiences.

Raymond Collins, formerly of Brattle-
boro and a member of Company [, now |
member of the l01st ammunition train,
has written to his parents, Mr. and Mrs |
George A. Collins of Woodstock. under
date of March II, in France He is a
nephew of Mrs George Knight of Chest
nut street and while here was employed
by the Holstein- Friesian association of
fee He writes:
Dear Mother and Father:
/ have received all the Christmas
boxes you sent and also the helmet,
etc. but am afraid it is too late to use
it this winter as it is quite warm here
now.
/ must tell you of some of my latest
experiences. We had air raids last night
and night before They came about
o'clock Night before last we had just
gone to bed when the anti-air craft guns
began shooting [ woke up suddenly and
| fairly Jumped into my shoes and over
coat and grabbed my helmet and gas
mask. as they sometimes drop gas
! bombs and ran for the bomb-proof. The
guns chased Fritz away and we went
back to the barracks and | put on the
rest of my uniform and into the bomb
1
angry enough at the Boche to have gone
They Quoted down after few minutes
and Dennis the other clerk here in the
office and myself, decided we would sleep
in the office, which is nearer the bomb
proof than the barracks.
We started twice but no sooner would
we get outside than they would start
shooting again and shrapnel was falling
pretty thick.
We finally succeeded III getting our
blankets to the office, where we made our
bed on a big table and finally succeeded
in falling asleep.
/ understand there was big raid on
London and Paris the same night.
But that did not satisfy Fritz. for he
paid us another visit last night | had
some reports to make out and | was
working in the office. when Bang"
the whole place trembled and | blew out
the lights because | was not going to take
any chances. The lieutenant who was IN
my office, Dennis and myself crawled
under the table next to the wall, SO if any
shrapnel came through the window it
would go over us and not hit US
They dropped five bombs in the i'm
mediate vicinity but with no great
harm done
The anti-air craft guns were blazing
away at the machines, and searchIights
from every quarter of the camp We're
throwing their powerful rays upon them.
After the first few shots we came out
OF our hiding place and went into the
bomb proof, but it was too duh there 50
we went outside where we could see the
shells bursting overhead and see and
hear the shrapnel fall to the ground but
again the Frenchman put one over on
the Bochc who thought he would sur
prise us, and he soon got tired of being
shot at and went away.
| don't know whether he came back
during the night or. not. for | went Il
:. eIeols4 Rak slept ia shssAEae =. 49,
. Dennis and myself sleep III the office
nights now with full pack" so # we have
another visit from Fritz we will lose no
, time III getting to the bomb proof, as we
are not allowed TO take part in driving
away the machines. Perhaps YOU don't
know the meaning of sleeping with full
1 pack: it is going to bed fully dressed.
As | write have my Tin roof" or. ii
4 reality. my helmet on. chiefly to shade
4 my eyes from the bright light
/ They have set the time ahead an hour
: so | get my work done i'll the Office now
9 iii daylight where | used to have t
/ finish by lamp-Eght.
1 Papers | receive from you are montl
t old. but they surely look good to US
I The weather here is great now Tn,
: ground Is drying up fast and we expec1
/. to get the rubber boots (Which we wer,
4 promised some time ago when it was we
i and muddy1 soon. 1t is very warm ant
very few of lis wear oyercoats now
We have Just been issued leather vest
which Is very warm and comfortable
| will close with love to all.
RAYMOND COLLINS.