During the advance we saw chalked notices written by Germans, such as
“Wilhelm, Emperor of Europe.” Then underneath you would see a British
Tommy had written, “I don’t think.” One curious incident was the sight
of a Highlander who had taken pity on a woman refugee who was carrying
two babies. He took one up in each arm, and carried them along whilst
the woman walked by his side carrying his rifle. I could not see what
Highland regiment he belonged to because there was hardly a man who had
a badge: _Corpl. W. L. Pook, Royal Engineers_.
“Shove-Ha’penny”
An infantry chap found a table and, scoring lines on it with his
bayonet, joined in a game of “shove-ha’penny” with four other
Tommies. The sequel came later, as sequels will. When the party
managed to reassemble for another game a shell had smashed the table
to smithereens. “My luck’s out wi’ the infernal shove-ha’penny,”
said the infantry chap. “I’m blowed if I’ll play any more.” Then he
explained that just before the war he was playing for pots of beer in a
public-house when the police raided the place. “Now it’s the Germans,”
he added bitterly: _A Private of the Army Medical Corps_.