United States or Laos ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
The last thing Major Mallaby-Kelby said before going off to sleep was, "Extraordinary long time since we met any civilians. Haven't seen any since July." Sept. 4: "A full mail-bag and a bottle of white wine are the best spirit revivers for war-worn fighting-men," said Major Mallaby-Kelby contentedly, gathering up his own big batch of letters from the one and sipping a glass of the other.
Just before we came out of the wood Major Mallaby-Kelby called to me to chalk the sign of Brigade H.Q. on an elaborate hut that stood forty yards off the track a four-roomed hut, new and clean. It was not pleasant, however, to find two dead Boche horses lying in the doorway. An enemy bombardment started as we left the wood.
I was going to lie down inside here until it got light, ... but I have no matches, and I put my hand on a clammy dead Boche." "Get away with you!" I laughed. "That's a dead horse. I saw it this afternoon." Sure of my ground now, I walked comfortably towards the dug-out where Major Mallaby-Kelby and the adjutant were waiting. It was 11.15 P.M. now.
"We're sending two patrols through the wood to the canal now," replied the captain, "The Boche hadn't entirely cleared out three-quarters of an hour ago." "We may as well go on," said Major Mallaby-Kelby, after three or four minutes further conversation. "The Boche must be over the canal by now ... and we have to select battery positions as soon as possible.
Major Mallaby-Kelby left one souvenir, a bottle of the now famous white wine which had got mislaid at least the cook explained it that way. The omission provided Brigade Headquarters with the wherewithal to drink the major's health. At nine o'clock that night I stood with Major Veasey outside our headquarters dug-out. A mizzling rain descended.
I stood still getting my box-respirator on." When the shelling died down we walked farther along the trench, which turned westwards. Excellent positions for the three 18-pdr. batteries were found not far from the trench; and returning again towards the wood for our horses, we chanced upon a deep dug-out that Major Mallaby-Kelby sent me down to explore.
"Government Farm!" called Major Mallaby-Kelby, with an informative gesture. Government Farm was a datum point that batteries had mercilessly pasted two days before. "Government Farm!" repeated Major Bullivant, who walked behind Mallaby-Kelby. "Government Farm!" echoed Major Veasey, with out-stretched arm; and I, in my turn, passed the word to Beale. Young Beale was in exuberant spirits.
Réveille was provided by the bursting of an 8-inch shell on the other side of the road. It removed part of the roof of our hut, and smothered the rest with a ponderous shower of earth. We shaved and washed by the roadside, and Major Mallaby-Kelby contrived a rapid and complete change of underclothing, also in the open air.
After certain hesitations as to the right track to follow, we reached the north-western edge of the wood. Major Mallaby-Kelby refused to allow us to leave cover, and we knelt hidden among the prickly bushes. "For heaven's sake don't show these white breeches, Veasey," laughed Major Bullivant. A village nestled at the foot of the slope.
A Battery had been ordered to move about half a mile beyond Guillemont, and to come into action off the road that led towards the extensive, low-lying village of Combles, through which the enemy front line now ran. Major Mallaby-Kelby had gone forward and the three remaining batteries awaited his return.
Word Of The Day