At the Front

Levin Daily Chronicle, 17 May 1917, Page 3

At the Front

build up the parapets which had been ■ blown down that 'afternoon. We finished our job- about 1 a.m. and them had to return. We did not trouble to double up, but ducked our heads occasionally. Two days after we .went into the trenches again and we did not think we would come out alive. Yet there were 300 of us and only one got wounded. We burrowed in until 2 a.m., when we were called up and hand to stand for two hours—which the boys don't like—then turned in again until breakfast-time, when we had to dodge shells and keep out of eight of the snipers. Ater ten days in that -trench we were relieved by the second brigade. Our "rest" was work —going to the trenches, carrying rations, or material for constructing dugouts and trenches. Abomt this time I was attached to the Royal Engineers as gas expert. ■ I am sorry to ■ say my mate was killed on the Snmme.' We were on this job for two months ,when I was "gased," but luckily for me a mate had l a chemical which relieved me from choking. In August we were called back to our unit again, and next day moved off to where no no one knew, and marched six miles. During that march we were inspected by His Majesty the King; then we boarded a train, had a two hours' run, and marched for another five, miles to a French village; got into a billet (any little corner). A mate and I slept in a waggon. After a week of training here we marched another ten miles, then boarded a train and l spent three hours in a -cattle alighting in a fairly large town. We had a cup of tea and some biscuits and marched off again, feeling very tired. We tramped nine miles and then discovered we were on the wrong road; so . we

' were glnd to get a shake-down on the side of the road until morning. After breakfast we were on "the long ti;ail" again. We reached ——— on the £>th September, and on the night of th«* 10th went into the fighting . on the Sommo and ' was there two days. On th® 12 th we were taken back to tho wood where we burrowed until the niglit of the 14th. It was lovely, raining all the time, and all we had ' was a few branches and some of E'ntz's coats to get under. On the afternoon of the 14th we got ready for the trenches, and the band, came and played ua two selections. Thpn came the wishing of good luck to one another who wore to take part in the advance i of the '15th, and many, I am sorry to say, we never met again. It.was 11 at night when we got to the trench, where wo crowded down and huddled together to keep warm, for the night was horribly cold. We could not sleep for we knew there was stern work before us on the morrow. At 5.30 we luad something to eat, but few cared for anything. While waiting foi; 6.20 we saw the tanks going into action. At ten past six the word was passed along, "Get ready, lads," and a few minutes later we were over the top, with tlie second brigade in the lead, who tooik the first lino ' of trenches. Then I saw the horrors of war. After a few hundred yards a piece of shell hit my rifle, smashing it. I saw another just ahead of me and seized it and went on. On reaching the 'Germans' third line of trenches one of our men got a wound by a bullet coming from tha rear. > .Well, we 'got 'Fritz on the go, and we then had to: dig in and man the trenches we had gained: We were getting it hot and sent back word for reinforcements. In an hour they came, heedless of the storm of bullets and sheila which were bursting - and whizzing all round them. The field of battle that day was an awful sight —smoke, for miles, clouds of earth torn lip and scattered, the howling and bursting of shells, and, worst of all.

brave men falling. Next morning the first brigade relieved us. As I was going over the top of a parapet I stopped a. piece of shrapnel. I got intoi a hole until a doctor came and dressed me and some other. I had to stay there for two hours, when I was sent to No. 1 dressing station. Then I. was piaseed l on to another dressing station. Here I got a cup of tea and was helped along to the ambulance cars, which I had to wait ifor an hour, but I did not mind for I saw several chaps I knew, among them Bill. A oar took me to another dressing station where .there were dozens awaiting to be treated. Here I was inoculated and put on the ambulance again, arriving at another station just 'before midnight", where I was dressed and lilad refreshments. At Bin the morning I was put aboard a train and lay on a stretcher, for 21 hours—the worst train iride I ever had. I was then put upon another oar and taken to ia hospital, where I stayed for three days. Then I was shifted again—this time on to a hospital ship and transported to Southampton, and- from there I was token by train to Brockenhnrst

If enough Is as good a sa feast, As pale prigs and philosophers say. We. all hope to get that much at least, And without any needless' de'av. But whatever we get must be good. Of a quality potent and pure; More consoling that wealth, and conducive to health,

A LEVIN BOY'S LETTER TO HIS -PARENTS.

Fred Astridge writes: We got into Armentierres at one in the morning after a seven-mile (march and were put in ai billet—a hospital which had been shelled. We were dead tired land glad to get our packs off, and we slept on a concrete floor with two blankets and! an overcoat At nine next morning we had to h nt for food and my breakfast was Fn nch bread and bully. At 10 o'clock we had a parade and were told to keep under cover when aeroplanes were overhead, and to he on the alert for spies. We were in this billet for three days and at night went with twelve others to the trenches. We returned unhurt, but I was a bit shaken by the she'll fire. We had "n cncinccir to guide us along the trench and he warned us to bend low as we raced along. We had a mile of this, and then we could hardly get our backs straight through being doubled up so long. Our job was to

Hospital", where I was well 'looked after. I was there two months iand my wounds -healed up splendidly, ■ thanks to the doctors and sisters for the careful attention I received. I was next sent to an auxiliary hospital to pick up strength; then I was sent to Oodford. Next came fourteen days' leave to Scotland and where 1 spent a most enjoyable time. lam now in training again and ready to go hack to France and take part in the next big push.

He marched away so bravely, Hie young head proudly held; His footsteps never faltered, His courage never failed. There on the field of battle He calmly tocik his place. He fought and died for Britain And the honor of his race.