The Huttig news., 1918-03-30

iuN. he lauSneu ana JOkeu dll the way on the march, buoying up my dropping spirits I 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 ping of my heavy marching boot. Pete noticed that 1 was limping and offered to carry my rife, but by this time had learned the ethics of the march in tiIr British army and courteously refused his offer.
 We had gotten halfway through the communication trench, Pete in my i'm 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 ripped over 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 tucked. Then moan from the rear. My heart stood still I went back and Pete was lying on the ground. By the aid of my f1ashlight I saw that he had his hand pressed to his right breast. The fingers were GOV cred with blood. I flashed the light on his face and In it's glow a grayiSh- blue color was stealing over his coun- tenance. Pete looked up 8t me and said: "Well, Tank. they've done me in. I can feel myself going West" His voice was getting fainter and I had to kneel down to get his words. Then he gave me a message to write home to his mother and his sweetheart, and I, like great big boob, cried like a baby. I 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 tirst-aid post. where the doctor took an official record of Pete's name, num- ber rank and regiment from his iden- tity disk, this to be used in the cas- ualty lists and notification to his family.
 We left Pete there. but it broke our hearts to do so. The doctor informed us that we could bury him the next morning.. That afternoon five of tha boys of our section. myself included, went to the little ruined village in the rear and from the deserted gardens of the French chateauX gathered grass and flowers. From these we made T wreath.
 While the boys were making this wreath. I sat under shot-scarred apple tree and carved out the follow ing verses on little wooden shield which we nailed on Petc'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 Passed to their God. enshrined in glory,
 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 bdden to go. Next morning the whole section vert over to say good-by to Pete, and laid him away to rest.
 After each one had look at the face of the dead, corporal of the R. <. M c. sewed up the remains in blan- ket. Then placing two heavy ropes across the stretcher (to he used in low erlng the body into the gravel. We lift ed Pete onto the streteher, and rey- erently covered him with large union jack. the flag he had died for.
 The chaplain led the way, then came the officers of the section, followed by two of the men carrying wreath. In- medlately after came poor Pete on the fag-draped stretcher, carried by four soldiers. I was one of the four Be hind the stretcher, in column of fours, came the remainder of the section.
 To get to the cemetery, we had to pass through the little shell-destroyed village, where troops were hurrying to and fro.
 As the funeral procession passed