“When she was sixteen years old her parents seized the first
opportunity of getting her married. She never knew the man, but luckily
as time wore on they grew very fond of each other, and were very happy.
At first they both served in a shop, and thanks to their perseverance
and frugality they were soon able to open a small shop of their own.
But just as they began to prosper the war broke out, and he was one of
the first to be called up.
“She was very keen on accompanying him as a soldier, but he begged her
to stay behind and work for her parents, whom they had been keeping.
“She was always ready for any daring venture, and it was with great
reluctance that she stayed at home in compliance with her husband’s
wish. Time passed, and after long waiting she got the news that he had
been killed in action in May, 1915. At once she went to her parents and
said: ‘I have decided to go to the front, and you will either hear of
my death or I shall return to you in honor and glory. I trust in God.’
And no persuasions were of any use.
“For two years she lived in the trenches and fought like a man. She
was wounded three times—in her arm, leg, and back. In the Lake Naroch
battles there was a time when all the officers were killed and the men
lost courage and lay down, too frightened to attack. Then she rose up
and dashed forward calling on them to follow her. Every one obeyed her
command, and the trench was captured. She has received two St. George’s
medals and two St. George’s crosses for various feats of bravery. At
the end of the two years she was legally admitted into the 28th Polozk
Regiment.