The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-04-07
"A Boston Soldier S
Exciting Experiences
on His asst Charge
"Over the Tor"

surrey Regiment, II. NJ. Imperial
Army.
Copyright. 1917, by the Boston POST
when / eeJoinea the bau again they
were Just going into the sonme after
a two weeks rest They didn't Ike
II bit.
Ave we got 10 fight III ole blinhin'
war? Is It right7 I asks yer. Is n.y.
aays Wellsie.
II was ali wrong. We had been
told after High Wood that We wouId
not have 70 so into action again fl
that part of the line. but that ne
would have a month OF rest and after
that would be sent up 20 the Yprcs
sector. wiper" hadn't been any
garden Of roses early IN the war, but
il WAS paradise now. compared with
the somme-
Ii WAS IL sal lot Of men when we
swung out On the road again back
10 the somrne. and there was less
singing than usual That first night
we remained at ARmetz Wood. We
figured that we would get 90 KIP while
the Ripping was good, There were
some old Boche duKouts In fair con
dision and we were IN "a fair way to
get comfortable No luokl
We were hardly down TO good
s.esp when g com pany was called 10
fall in with equipment. and We knew
that meant fatigue OF GONE sort J
have often admired the unknown per
son who invented that WORD fatigue
aa applied IN military term, He
a,Bed IL RS disguise for Just plain
hard work II means ANY thing what
ever in the way NJ duty that does
not have TO do directly with this man
ming OF the trenches.
All the next day we carried boxeT
of Mtllses UP to the dump that was
by High wood. three long mixes over
hard going, Being a corporal had It's
compensation at this game, as ! had
no carrying TO do, But inasmuch az
the bombs we're moved two boxes so
X man, ! got my share 81 hard wort.
helping men out - holes and lend
ing a hand when they were mlrcA,
PREPARE TON BIG ATTACK.
MillseS are packed with the bombs
and detonatoys separate IN the sans
box, and tho men are very careful tr
the handling Of them. so the rnoviuF
Of material OF this kind n wearing
Another line of man killers that VS.
had 70 move were ''tory apples " Thit
quaint little toy is A huge bomb. per
fectly round ana Weighing slxt,
pounds. vi "a long rod or pipe 50 hicf
inserts into the mortar, Tory apples
are about the awkwardest thing iEnaE
Unable TO carry.
This carrying stunt went on fol
eight long days and nights. W.
worked on an average 81 sixteen hour
DAY, II ratred nearly all the tim,
and we never cot dried out The foot
was awful. as the advance had beer
30 fast that II wAs almost Impossible
TO get up the supplies and the met
I'm the front trenches had the ArN
pick Of the grub,
n was also Up 20 us'to get the wa'e'
np TO the front The method Of fhh
wss to use the fve-sallon gasolin,
cans. Sometimes they were washet
cut: oftener they weren't Always thu
water tasted OF -~s We got she sam
thing. and several times I got sic}
drinking the stuff.
When that eight Gays Of carrytnt
were over we were 30 fed up that We
didn't care whether wa clicked or not
Maybe II YVES good mental preparation
q for what WA to come. for on top o
M IL all Il turned cut that we. were q
70 over the top In another big at
tack.
HOLMES USLUCKY DAYS.
When we got the news got Dink,
out and xcolded him. Maybe ia bet
N tar tell you all about Dinky before
4 70 any further. Soldiers are rattle
prone to superstittona Relieved o
ali responsibility and with most o
THAR thinking done for them, fhe,
III revert surprisingly quick to q, stat'
~ more or less savage mentality
Perhaps n would ne better 10 cal
~ ~EH To ~
accunulate a lot OF fool superstition
and hang to them. Tho height o
folly and the superlative invitation-tt
bad luck is lighting three Tags on on
match When that harrens one %
the three f. sure 10 click Il soon.
As cpe out % any group OF thre,
anywhere stands fair chance OF get
ting his, flag or no flag. the thing &
reasonably sure 10 work out accord
a mr. to the popular belief Most ever,
man has bis unlneky day IN tn
II trenches One II mine was Monday
TIE others ware Tuesday. Wednesday
IS Thursday. Friday, Saturday and Sun
PRACTICALLY every rolA'@- carrie,
sone kind Of mascot or charm J
rood many ara crucifxes and religious
ss tokens. Come are coins Sergean
wells had zeashell with three Ntti,
black spots on f. He considered three
SCI HI lucky number. Thirteen wsR mine
Ny mascot was the aforesaid am
SE much revered I59ky Dlnky was ent
H& ~ 4 small black cat made Of velvet
He's entirely fiat except his hesd
which is heeomtngiy round with vel
1Ow glass eyes. I carried Dinky IN
NJ IDS my tunic always and felt safer
NJ hangs at the head Of my bed now
Z q u