The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-18

1 Headquarters was of opinion that the l Germans were not aware that the l trench was held by British soldiers. b tSt | that morning headquarters changed it's | opinion. The Germans evidently had
 come to know that the trench was held
 and now the hostile gunners were en- 1 gagged in blowing the sandbagged alley 1 to pieces.
 There, that's a bloomin big packet.'' | Spudhole exclaimed, as a heavy shell burst on the slagheap on the right
 and covered the locality with earth and 1 splinters. "A bloomin' big packet and
 Gee whizz"
 A nose-cap that embedded itself in a | sandbag near his head was respon- sble for the exclamation. He pulled it | out and looked at it. ! "Sooveneer, cinq sous" he said, ] holding the nose-cap in his hand and 1 looking at it. It as made a mess O l the bloomin sandbag.' At that moment shell fell in the trench, two bays l away and dugouts, sandbags, rifles
 and equipment flew into the air.
 Gahey placed his bayonet against the parados and followed by his two mates 1 he rushed round to the scene of the l explosion.
 1 The shell had dropped right on the l floor of the trench where a man who 1 had been wounded earlier in the day
 
 ! so were two others who had been seat l ed the firestep when the shell | landed. Five men were wounded No l officer was to be seen; one of the 1 killed was a sergeant. Gahey, always ready in an emergency, took charge l of operations.
 ] Send the call for stretcher bearers to left and right he shouted and I knelt down beside the wounded man nearest him.
 Help me into the next bay with l this fellow he said and Bowdy Ben ners helped him to carry the wounded man round the traverse. They placed 1 the limp, unconscious figure the ] firestep and going back they carried a second man to the comparative safe- l ty of the untouched bay Spudhole, as- sisted by another soldier, was mean while engaged on a similar work of mercy.
 | Gahey knelt on the ground beside ] the first wounded man and cut the tunic away from the shoulder. Here | there was a raw, red wound with the l blood squirting out Seeking in the | tunic, Gahey found a first field dress 1 ing and this he applied to the mans 1 shoulder. The other man. who was not ! so badly hurt, smiled at Gahey when l he turned to him. How are ye feelin?" Gahey en. 1 quired
 | I'm all right" the soldier respond 1 ed. Don't trouble about me until all | the others are right I can hold on." Will ye have a cigarette?' Gahey enquired.
 If you have one to spare.1 was the
 reply of the soldier, who looked a
 mere boy.
 I T haven't one" said Gahey, Out my
 mate has. Here, Spudhole, ye limb iv | perdition. where are ye?" he believed. 1 "Ere am," said Spudhble. coming l round the traverse. "Wots wrong wiv yer now?"
 "A flag for this man. said Gahey, pointing to the soldier on the fire l step Give him a smoke and I'll put 1 the dressin on him" l Spudhole stopped to avoid the splint- 1 CTS from a shell which dropped out l in front and felt in his pocket Bring l ing out a cigarette he placed it be-
 tween the lips of the wounded boy. | Gahey lit it.
 "Where's the stretcher bearers" ?" l Spudhole asked. "They're never ere
 when they're wanted.'' l '.As far as see they've plenty iv
 work to do wherever they are" said 1 Gahey. "This is no bun scramble I'm l tellin' ye."
 Spudhole looked at the wounded boy. i We're a rocky aren't ye?" he en- 1 quired, "and a Londoner born, if know anything"
 1 "Just out" was the answer; Lon | don born and bred"
 What's yer age?' asked Gahey, placing dressing on wounded leg. /, Nineteen"
 Hes all right. too" said Spudhole. I've just been hearin' about him. 'E began to sing when the Jerrys start l ed shellin'. They was all rockies in | that bay and he wanted to keep their i spirits up."
 l Well that's the right kind iv men | to send us," said Gahey. When this l strafe is done with he'll be one iv the 1 first to be carried out if I have any l thing to do in the matter" l But despite Gahey's promise to the contrary, the young rocky was the last to leave the trenches when the strafe 1 came to an end
 ! The boy, newly out, refused to be l put on the stretcher until all the oth- 1 CT wounded were taken away. l Seeing that I've been only two days l in the trenches, I can surely stay for
 a little while longer" he protested when Gahey urged him ito get out iv | it." There are others who are much
 worse off than am l Good-by, rooky!' said Gahey that night, when the young fellow was at
 last persuaded to 20 down to the 1 dressing station. "If ye get better and come out here again III always be { glad to fight be the side iv ye.'