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Updated: June 22, 2025
In addition to this we were being subjected to very heavy fire on our left flank, which was now completely in the air, and we could actually see their gun teams working the 77's on the crest of the ridge. The Bosche had paid us the compliment of rushing up his best troops to meet our Division, and certainly the Alpini Corps were most gallant fighters.
This will give you some idea of the way the ground was interlaced with subterranean passages, and this, mind you, was only one tunnel of many. It was quite pleasant to breathe comparatively fresh air again after the foul atmosphere down below. Bosche was more lively with his shell-fire and they were coming much too near to be pleasant.
Carmichael set out with two battalion scouts, Ptes. Pirie and Kinniburgh, to reconnoitre a part of the Bosche wire. The men were armed in the usual way for those adventures, i.e. with bayonet and a few bombs only and dressed in burberry suits, which made them look more like deep-sea divers than soldiers.
Father and sons are all away, restoring the Bosche to his proper place in the animal kingdom. Presently "the wife" comes to the door, with a smile. She can afford to smile now, for not so long ago her guests were Uhlans. Then begins an elaborate pantomime.
Save for the scurrying of the rats and the drip drip drip of water, the silence was like that of the grave. "What's wrong?" I asked. "Bosche is up to no good when he drops silent so soon," he said. The words of the sentry recurred to me. "I've a feeling, sir, that I cannot describe." I was beginning to feel the same. At length my companion broke the silence.
What a sight! Shells were falling thick and fast over Trones and towards Baentin-le-Grand. I must film this, Bosche or no Bosche! So hastily fixing up my tripod, I fastened on the camera and began exposing. "Excellent," I thought; "I've got it." Another shell came along. This time it was evidently a 5.9, and was right in the centre of my view, about one hundred and fifty yards away! Another one.
"They cannot be treated here, it's impossible. I've never seen such a sight." I left him and went into the house where the cyclist C.O. had made his temporary headquarters. "I want to get on further, is there any other village near by?" "Yes," he said, "there is Haucourt, but I believe Bosche is in part of it, or he was this morning. It's about two kilos from here.
Placing my apparatus in the comparative safety of the dug-out, I accompanied him outside. Fortunately for us these interesting novelties could be seen coming. Men are always on the look-out for "Minnies," and when one has been fired from the Bosche it rises to a height of about five hundred feet, and then with a sudden curve descends.
The Bosche had turned them all out of their homes, then burnt their houses and their belongings. They had walked miles exposed to the freezing cold rains and winds, they had been packed into this church like a lot of sheep without covering, without fires. She was begging for medicine for her three-months-old babe. "She will die, monsieur, she will die!"
Nearly stumbling into a shell hole where six Germans were lying quietly, he halted on the edge, not knowing whether he was going to be shot or taken prisoner; then they said, "we your friends," at which he hurled his stretcher at them and bolted back, falling immediately into another shell hole, but the Bosche remained talking excitedly and Pte. Lamb returned safely.
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