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Experience of Explosion on December 6th 1917
I wish to give my experience of what happened on the day of the explosion and terrible disaster that took place on December 6th 1917.

"I was on my way to the Citadel and was in front of the Signal Station when a heavy explosion occurred which startled me, and which was followed by a terrific explosion which threw me down, and also a young lady who was proceeding to the south end. I was not hurt neither was the young lady. I went to her assistance but she said she was not hurt. I then looked up north and saw a magnificent sight in the sky caused by the explosion, first a large volume of dark clouds, followed by white ones circling thousands of feet in the air, and in the centre lots of flame. It was indeed a sight I will never forget. I at once thought that the magazine at a North Ordnance had blown up, and little did I realize what terrible havoc, disaster and loss of life it had brought to our city by the sea. I then went at once to the Citadel and found every office, barrack room completely destroyed, sashes, windows and doors torn to pieces, and on going among the men found numbers badly cut, but non seriously hurt. Everything was in confusion and the office I work in, was a sight, with broken glass and sashes torn out. I then looked about to try and fix up what I could and gather together my papers, but before long the Citadel was besieged with hundreds of wounded who had been warned to get out of their houses as another explosion was expected at any moment. The people were certainly panic stricken and came to the Citadel gate wounded and bleeding asking for a doctor so they were allowed in, and an orderly and myself took them to the doctor's office, and as our doctor had not arrived, as he was still at his home attending to those who rushed in to have their wounds attended to, and his sergeant had been taken to Camp Hill Hospital to help carry the wounded and dying, it was perhaps an hour or more before they arrived at the Citadel, we had to do our best to give first aid to those we could. The wounded came from Wellington Barracks, and even as far as Rockhead Hospital. Doctor Morton and his sergeant later turned up, and he did heroic work. We used one of the barrack rooms which happened to be empty for a temporary shelter to keep the men, women and children warm until the doctor could attend to their troubles. We also served hot tea, bread and jam to the children and women. We also sent the serious cases at once to the Hospital, by one of our officers, Lieut. Harrison, who had an auto with him, and by five o'clock the doctor was able to temporarily help all the wounded. The following day we had as many of our men brought from the forts that could be spared, and they proceeded to Richmond daily to do whatever was required of them, and continued on that duty until the 24th of December. They were also utilized at the cemeteries to dig graves for those who had lost their lives. I went to Mount Olivet Cemetery and had buried in one grave one of our gunners, Daniel Sullivan, his wife and three children. It was indeed a very sad sight and something I will never forget. Our men worked faithfully and well and even in the terrible storms we had, not a complaint was made by one of them. My Quartermaster Sergeant and Bombardier did everything possible for the comfort of the wounded and also our own men.

Respectfully submitted,
A. M. Bauld, Major
Quartermaster, 1st Regiment C.G.A.

Noted on top of page MGI vol 2.124 number 251