The "dug-out" was really a hole scraped in the side of a trench leading
up to the front line and some 50 yards from it. It was October '16 on
the Somme, after the weather had broken. The trench was about two feet
deep in liquid mud--a delightful thoroughfare for runners and other
unfortunate ones who had to use it.
The officer in the dug-out heard the _splosh--splosh--splosh_ ... of a
single passenger coming up the trench. As the splosher drew abreast the
dug-out the officer heard him declaiming to himself: "Baa! baa! I'm a
blinkin' lamb lorst in the ruddy wilderness. Baa! baa!..."
And when the bleating died away the _splosh--splosh--splosh_ ... grew
fainter too, as the "lamb" was lost in the night.--_L. W. Martinnant,
64 Thornsbeach Road, Catford, S.E.6._