Greeting 230 THE YPRES TIMES At that moment I heard a Vickers firing away on my right. Thinking it might be my own team, I made for it with all the speed I could. Some Fritz, who evidently bore me a grudge, sent a hail of bullets about my heels, and, matters becoming decidedly unhealthy, I was forced to jump into a large hole for cover. Here I received a shock, for, standing against the side of the hole, were four Germans complete with rifles and fixed bayonets, and I thought my number was up. But luck was on my side, for they proved to be deadfrom concussion, I concluded. Crawling out of my shell hole, I made my way slowly but surely across to the gun I had heard firing, and found it to be the remainder of my gun-team, viz., Kirk and Lieut. W. These two and myself were the only men left of those who had set out at 6 a.m. We now carried on and passed Polderhoek Chateau, where we located quite a decent position, but had to retire to the old emplacement in which I had found the gun. Here, while the enemy were preparing for a counter-attack, we came to the conclusion that reinforcements were necessary, and it fell to the writer to get through with a message to Headquarters at Stirling Castle. I had not proceeded very far when Jerry dropped his barrage, and I guessed he was counter-attacking from the rattle of rifle and machine-gun fire from the new front line. The front line was really not a trench at all, but just shell holes, many of them half full of stinking water covered with slime and scum, from which here and there an arm or leg protruded. After what seemed weeks of struggling through that mud bath, but which was actually only an hour or so, I reached Stirling Castle and delivered my message to Lieut. Gibbon, acting Commanding Officer. This gallant officer said he must go to the position himself. So off we started down the duckboards, Lieut. Gibbon leading. But this officer, loved by all his men, and a true gentleman, was picked off by a sniper near Inverness Copse. Almost at the same instant there was a terrific explosion; I was flung off my feet; a shower of mud and filth rained down upon me, and 1 remembered no more until I regained consciousness some time later. 1 felt sick and dazed, but luckily had escaped with a few minor scratches only. I can recall wandering around until a driver of one of the big tanks assisted me to Stirling Castle. Here I was given a tot of rum by our Padre and sent into a dug-out to the rear of Headquarters for a sleepand sleep I did, for nearly twelve hours, with a box for a mattress, a mud-bank for a pillow and my feet in eighteen inches of water; but I did enjoy that sleep, although when I awoke my legs were numbed and dead. About three days later I returned to the transport lines to find that Kirk and the Lieutenant W., who had given me up for lost, had already arrived back safe and sound. Our brigade had been relieved and several counter-attacks repulsed. H.W.B., late 13th M.G. Coy., 5th Infantry Division). Out of the mist of years to-day, Bugles' ringing Over the far-flung fields of sleep Echoes bringing. Triumphant peals the call on high, Bearing greeting to you who kept Unbroken faith before you slept. You did not stop to count the cost, You paid the price You broke the bread and drank the wine Of sacrifice. You lived your hour, and went your way; Be with us now so we too keep Unbroken faith before we sleep. Aileen Radcliffe Reprinted by the kind permission of the Editor of the "Sunday Graphic."

HISTORISCHE KRANTEN

The Ypres Times (1921-1936) | 1933 | | pagina 8