The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1918-04-26
CHAPTER VII.
rhe LittIe Wooden cross.

AFTER remaining III rest DAhiCh7 -
eight days, we received the unwelcome
tidings that the next morning we would
ego in to take over" At six in the
morning our march started and, after
long march down the dusty road, we
again arrived at reserve billets.
was No. 1 In the leading set or
fours. The man on my left was named
tpete Walling," a CHEEKY sort of fell
low. He laughed and joked all the |
way on the march, buoying up my |
drooping spirits. / could not figure out |
anything attractive in again occupying |
the front line, but Pete did not seem to
mind, said it was all in lifetime. MY
left heel was blistered from the rub
bling of my heavy marching boot. Pete
noticed that was limping and offered
to carry my rifle, but by this time had
learned the ethics of the march Ia the
British army and courteously refused
his offer.
We had gotten halfway through the
communication trench, Pete in my inn
mediate rear. He had his hand on my
shoulder, as men in a communication
trench have to do to keep in touch with
each other. We had just climbed over
bashed-in part of the trench when
In our rear man tripped over a loose
signal wire, and let out an oath. AS
usual Pete rushed to his help. TO
reach the fallen man he had TO cross
this bashed-in part. A bullet cracked
In the air and I ducked. Then q moan
from the rear. My heart stood still.
went back and Pete was lying on the
ground. BY the aid of my fiashlight
1 saw that he had his hand pressed to
his right breast. The fingers were COW
cred with blood. I flashed the light
on his face and in its glow graytsh-
blue color was stealing over his coun-
tenance. Pete looked up at me and
said: sWell, Yank, they've done me in.
/ can feel myself going West" HIS
voice was getting fainter and ] had to
kneel down to get his words. Then ne
gave me message to write home to
his mother and his sweetheart, and l,
like great big boob, cried like baby.
| was losing my first friend of the
trenches.
Word was passed to the rear for
stretcher. He died before it arrived
Two of us put the body on the
stretcher and carried it to the nearest
| first-aid post, where the doctor tooB
| nm official record of Pete's name, mum
Der. rank and regiment from his fden
tity disk. this to be used in the cas-
ualty lists and notification to his
family.
We left Pete there, but 1t broke oul
hearts to do so. The doctor Informed
as that we could bury him the mex
morning. That afternoon five of thu
boys of our section, myself included
went to the little ruined village in thu
rear and from the deserted gardens o
the French chateaux gathered gras
and flowers. From these we made
wreath.
While the boys were making thi
wreath, / sat under shot-scarre'
apple tree als1 carved out the follow
ing verses on little wooden shell
which we nailed on Pete's cross.
True to his God; true TO Britain.
Doing his duty to the last,
| Just one more name to be written
On the Roll OF Honor of heroes passed
4 r
Entering life OF eternal rest,
One more chapter in England's story
OF her sons doing their best.
Rest. you soldier, mate so true,
Never forgotten by us below;
| Know that we are thinking of you.
Ere to our rest we are hidden to go.
Next morning the whole section wer
over to say good-by to Pete, and lai
him away to rest.
After each one had look at the fac
of the dead. corporal of the r. 4
nj. C. sewed up the remains in a blal
ket. Then placing two heavy rope
across the stretcher Ito be used in Low
ering the body into the gravel, we lit
ed Pete onto the stretcher. and re
erently covered him with a large unto
Jack, the flag he had died for.
The chaplain led the way, then can
the officers of the section, followed
two of the men carrying a wreath. II
mediately after came poor Pete on Il
fiag-lraped streteher. carried by to'
soldiers. / was one of the four. B
bind ne stretcher, in column of four