One afternoon on the Somme our battery received a severe strafe from
5·9's and tear-gas shells. There was no particular "stunt" on, so we
took cover in a trench behind the guns.
When the strafe had finished, we found our gun resting on one wheel,
with sights and shield smashed by a direct hit. There was tear gas
hanging about, too, and we all felt anything but cheerful.
Myself and detachment were solemnly standing around looking at the
smashed gun, and as I was wiping tears from my eyes, Smithy, our bright
Walworth lad, said: "Don't cry, Sarg'nt, they're bahnd ter give us
anuvver."--_E. Rutson (late Sergeant, R.F.A., 47th London Division),
43a Wardo Avenue, S.W.6._
"But yer carn't 'elp Laughin'"
There were a bunch of us Cockneys in our platoon, and we had just
taken over some supports. It being a quiet sector, we were mooning and
scrounging around, some on the parapet, some in the trenches, and some
at the rear.
All at once a shower of whizz-bangs and gas shells came over; our
platoon "sub." started yelling "Gas." We dived for the dug-outs.
Eight of us tried to scramble through a narrow opening at once, and we
landed in a wriggling mass on the floor. Some were kneeling and some
were sitting, all with serious faces, until one fellow said: "Phew,
it's 'ell of a war, but yer carn't 'elp laughin', can yer?"--_B. J.
Berry (late 9th Norfolk Regt.), 11 Rosemont Avenue, N. Finchley, N.12._
"Only an Orphan"
He came to the battalion about three weeks before going overseas, and
fell straight into trouble. But his Cockney wit got him out of trouble
as well as into it.
He never received a parcel or letter, but still was always the life of
our company. He never seemed to have a care.
We had been in France about a fortnight when we were ordered to the
front line and over the top. He was one of the first over, shouting
"Where's the blighters." They brought him in riddled with bullets.
When I asked if I could do anything for him, he said: "Are there many
hurt?" "Not many," I replied. "Thank Heaven for that," he replied.
"Nobody 'll worry over me. I'm only a blinkin' orphan."--_W. Blundell
(late N.C.O., 2nd East Surreys), Cranworth Gardens, S.W.9._