We were in reserve at Roclincourt in February 1917, and about twenty
men were detailed to carry rations to the front line. The trenches were
knee-deep in mud.
After traversing about two hundred yards of communication trench we
struck a particularly thick, clayey patch, and every few yards the
order "Halt in front!" was passed from the rear.
The corporal leading the men got very annoyed at the all-too-frequent
halts. He passed the word back, "What's the matter?" The reply was,
"Shorty's in the mud, and we can't get 'im out."
Waiting a few minutes, the corporal again passed a message back:
"Haven't you got him out yet? How long are you going to be?" Reply came
from the rear in a Cockney voice: "'Eaven knows! There's only 'is ears
showin'."--_G. Kay, 162 Devonshire Avenue, Southsea, Hants._
"If _That_ can stick it, _I_ can!"
Owing to the forced marching during the retreat from Mons, men would
fall out by the roadside and, after a rest, carry on again.
One old soldier, "Buster" Smith, was lying down puffing and gasping
when up rode an officer mounted upon an old horse that he had found
straying.
Going up to "Buster" the officer asked him if he thought he could
"stick it."
"Buster" looked up at the officer and then, eyeing the horse, said:
"If _that_ can stick it, _I_ can," and, getting up, he resumed
marching.--_E. Barwick, 19 St. Peter's Street, Hackney Road, E.2._