You would be surprised to see the enthusiasm of the people here. The
little kiddies run towards you and put their hands in yours, just like
my little kiddies at home. You can see little boys doing men’s work. I
noticed one chap (he would not be more than ten years old) with a pair
of horses, and he was ploughing all on his own: _A Private of the Royal
Field Artillery_.
Proud Indeed!
I brought back on my lorry a wounded bombardier, and when the doctor
told him that he would have his right leg and an arm amputated he did
not seem to trouble a bit, but went on chatting and joking with us
as if it were an everyday occurrence. He is only eighteen years old.
As they were taking in the ambulance he said, “It’s not much to look
forward to, but my mother will be proud of me”: _Corpl. Hollyer: Army
Service Corps_.
Wilted!
With their front files dressed in uniforms taken from the killed and
wounded of an English regiment, a German corps attempted to surprise
an English battalion. As they approached, the English commander,
becoming suspicious, gave the order to fix bayonets, whereupon the
Germans shouted, “Nein, nein! Leedle mistake! Ve vos not Shermans; ve
vos der Vilts.” The British then charged with bayonets and the Germans
“wilted”: _A Sergeant-Major, of Colchester_.