Ramage receives a 'blighty'
For many soldiers during the First World War, receiving a wound — a 'blighty' — was a welcome event, as it might offer an escape from the fighting. It could provide a passport back home to 'Blighty'.
George Ramage had only been at the Western Front for three months in 1915 when he was sent on what was to become his last mission as a grenadier. He was never to throw a bomb in earnest.
Being tired and hungry may have affected his concentration and he was wounded badly enough to be eventually sent back to Britain:
'Marching order and with a bomb jacket full of bombs to take charge of bomb throwers in another trench — trench rather low — 8 men under me for two posts — set reliefs several times — had lovely sleep during first watch — it was a delicious sleep — did this several times and was preparing to lie down again when was shot through left palm — mercifully the bullet chose the left hand about 7 am — heard a violent crack of a bullet and found myself holding my left wrist and saying 'Oh my hands blown away'.'
