A team of mules in November 1916 was taking a double limber up to the
line in pitch darkness on the Béthune-La Bassée road. A heavy strafe
was on, and the road was heavily shelled at intervals from Beavry
onwards.
On the limber was a newly-joined padre huddled up, on his way to join
advanced battalion headquarters. A shell burst 60 yards ahead, and the
mules reared; some lay down, kicked over the traces, and the wheel pair
managed to get their legs over the centre pole of the limber.
[Illustration: "Would you mind trekkin' off up the road?"]
There was chaos for a few minutes. Then the padre asked the wheel
driver in a very small voice, "My man, can I do anything to assist you?"
"Assist us," was the reply. "Yes, you can. Would you mind, sir,
trekkin' off up the road, so as we can use language these blighters
understand?"--_L. C. Hoffenden (late 483rd Field Co. R.E.),
"Waltonhurst," 16 Elmgate Gardens, Edgware._