The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-04-25
Picks and ShoVels.


mo. l section had clicked for another
blinking digging party" smiled to
myself with deep satisfaction. ] had
been promoted from a mere digger to
a member of the Suicide club, and was
exempt from all fatlgues. Then came
an awful shock. The sergeant looked
over In my direction and said:
Don't you bomb throwers think you
are wearing top hats out here. Cord
In to orders you've been taken up on
the strength Of this section. and win
have to do your bit with the pick and
shovel, same as the rest of u.s."
l put up a howl on my way to get
my shovel but the only thing that re-
suited was loss of good humor on
my part
We fell In at eight o'clock, outside
of our billetS, sort of masquerade
party. l was disguised as a common
laborer. had a pick and shovel and
about one hundr& empty sandbags
The rest. about two hundred in ALL
were equipped likewise: picks. shovels,
sandbags, rifles and ammunition.
The party moved out in column OF
tours, taking the road leading to the
trenches. Several times we had to
string out in the ditch to let long col
umns of limbers, artillery and supplies
get past.
The marching, under these condi-
tons, WAS necessarily slow. Upon ar
rival at the entrance to the communi-
cation trench. l looked at my illumi-
mated wrist watch-it was eleven
o'clock
Before entering this trench, word
was passed down the line, mo talking
or smoking, lead off In single file, COW
ering party first"
This covering party consisted of 30
men, armed with rifles bayonetS,
bombs, and two Lewis machine guns
They were to protect us and guard
against a surprise attack while dig
ging in No Mans Land.
The communication trench was
about half mile long, a zigzagglng
ditch, eight feet deep and three feet
wide.
Now and again, German shrapnel
would whistle overhead and burst in
our vicinity. We would crouch against
the earthen walls while the Shell frag-
ments slapped" the ground above us.
Once Fritz turned loose with a ma
chine gun, the bullets from which
"cracked" through the air and kicked
up the dirt on the top, scattering sand
and pebbles. which. hitting our steel
helmets, sounded like hailstones.
Upon arrival in the fire trench an
officer of the Royal Engineers gave us
our instructions and acted as guide.
We were to dig an advanced trench
two hundred yards from the Germans
(the trenches at this point were six
hundred yards apart.
Two winding lanes. five feet wide,
had been cut through our barbe9 wire,
for the passage of the diggers. From
these lines white tape had been laid
on the ground to the point where we
were to commence work. This In or
der that we would not get lost in the
darkness. The proposed trench was
also laid out with tape.
The covering party went ont first.
After short walt. two scouts came
Ing party was to follow and carry on"
with their work.
In extended order, two yards apart,
we noiselessly crept across No Mans
Land 1t was nervous work; every
minute we expected machine gun to
open fire on US. Stray bullets cracked"
around US, e. a rIcochet sang over
head.
Arriving at the tapped diagram of
the trench, rifles slung around our
shoulders, we lost no time In getting
to work. We dug as quietly as pos
sible but every now and then the noise
of pick or shovel striking a stone
would send the cold shlvers down our
backs. Under our brenths we heartily
cursed the offending Tommy
At intervals star shell would go W
from the German lines and we would
remain motionless until the glare Of It's
white light died out.
When the trench had reached a
depth of two feet we felt safer, be
cause 1t would afford us cover In case
we were discovered and fired on.
The digging had been In progress
about two hours, when suddenly hell
apamed tn hrpak Loose In the form OF
machne-gun and rife fire.
We dropped down on our bellies In
the shallow trench, bullets knocking
up the ground and swapping In the air.
Then shrapnel butted In. The music
was hot and Tommy danced.
The covering party was having q
rough time of 1t; they had no cover;
Just had to take their medicine.
Word was passed down the line to
beat 1t for our trenches. We needed no
urging; grabbing our tools and stoop-
Ing low. We legged 1t across No Mans
Land. Tho covering party got away
TO Il poor start but beat US in. They
must have had wings because we low
cred the record.
Painting and out Of breath, we tum-
bed into our front-line trench. / tore
my hands getting through our wire,
but, at the time, didn't notice it; my
Journey was too urgent
When the roll was called we found
that we had gotten Ii In the nose for
SO casualties.