SIR: IT was 1940 and I was a patient in Kitchener Ward, at Bolton Royal Infirmary, which was the eye ward. I had suffered eye damage due to an accident.

I recall that the hospital regime was quite strict, although the staff were very kind and friendly.

Visiting was limited to one hour on Wednesdays and Sundays. Because I was in my early teens and I was the youngest person in the men's ward, the sister relaxed the rule (unofficially, of course) and my mother was allowed to see me for a few minutes every day.

One night there was an air-raid. All the lights in the wards had to be dimmed. No-one seemed particularly worried and went to sleep. I could not sleep as I was feeling homesick.

Later during the night, I became aware of some unusual activity and muffled noises.

I could not see anything as both my eyes were bandaged and I had to lie perfectly flat without a pillow.

The following morning, I discovered that a young police constable had been admitted to the ward with serious eye injuries.

Apparently, some incendiary bombs had been dropped in Farnworth and the policeman had tried to extinguish one when it exploded in his face.

Everyone in the ward felt very sad and for a time his wife was allowed to stay by his bedside. After a few days, he was told that he had lost both his eyes.

It was a very poignant moment, but he was extremely brave, as was his wife.

He was a hero and, I think, the first local civilian casualty of the war.

I do not recall his name, but later on I spent a lot of time talking to him, as did many of the other patients.

Neil A P Teixeira,

Alexander Road,

Bolton.

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