In the year 1878 I took my degree of Doctor of Medicine of the University of London, and proceeded to Netley to go through the course prescribed for surgeons in the army. Having completed my studies there, I was duly attached to the Fifth Northumberland Fusiliers as Assistant Surgeon. The regiment was stationed in India at the time, and before I could join it, the second Afghan war had broken out. On landing at Bombay, I learned that my corps had advanced through the passes, and was already deep in the enemy's country. I followed, however, with many other officers who were in the same situation as myself, and succeeded in reaching Candahar in safety, where I found my regiment, and at once entered upon my new duties.
The campaign brought honours and promotion to many (эта кампания многим принесла почести и продвижение по службе; to bring — приносить; promotion — продвижение по службе; повышение в звании), but for me it had nothing but misfortune and disaster (но для меня она значила: «но для меня она имела» только несчастье и беды; fortune — счастье, удача; misfortune — беда, неудача, несчастье; злоключение; disaster — беда, бедствие, несчастье). I was removed from my brigade and attached to the Berkshires (меня перевели из моей бригады и назначили в Беркширский полк; to remove — передвигать, перемещать; to attach — прикреплять; прикомандировывать), with whom I served at the fatal battle of Maiwand (в котором я и служил во время злосчастной битвы при Мейванде; fatal — фатальный, роковой; пагубный). There I was struck on the shoulder by a Jezail bullet (там я был ранен в плечо афганской пулей; to strike — ударять/ся/, стукаться; поражать; Jezail — длинноствольный кремневый мушкет, оружие пуштунов /самоназвание афганцев/), which shattered the bone and grazed the subclavian artery (которая раздробила кость и задела подключичную артерию; to shatter — разбить вдребезги; раздробить; to graze — слегка касаться, задевать; clavicle — ключица). I should have fallen into the hands of the murderous Ghazis (я бы попал в руки беспощадных гази; to fall — падать; попадать; murder — убийство; murderous — смертоносный; кровожадный; жестокий; ghazi — воин за мусульманскую веру) had it not been for the devotion and courage shown by Murray, my orderly (если бы не преданность и мужество, проявленные Мурреем, моим ординарцем; courage — бесстрашие, мужество, отвага; to show — показывать), who threw me across a pack-horse, and succeeded in bringing me safely to the British lines (который перекинул меня через спину вьючной лошади и сумел благополучно доставить меня до расположения британских частей; to throw — бросать; safely — в сохранности; line — линия; оборонительный рубеж; линия фронта; lines — расположение войск).
brought [brO:t], honour ['On@], misfortune [mIs'fO:tS(@)n], disaster [dI'zA:st@], brigade [brI'geId], courage ['kVrIdZ], ward [wO:d], fever ['fi:v@]
The campaign brought honours and promotion to many, but for me it had nothing but misfortune and disaster. I was removed from my brigade and attached to the Berkshires, with whom I served at the fatal battle of Maiwand. There I was struck on the shoulder by a Jezail bullet, which shattered the bone and grazed the subclavian artery. I should have fallen into the hands of the murderous Ghazis had it not been for the devotion and courage shown by Murray, my orderly, who threw me across a pack-horse, and succeeded in bringing me safely to the British lines.