Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-04-02

II hundred yards before they could grt
within bombing distance of the trench
and then ii would bc all their own way
Turning to his company. III. c?main
said:
Men. it's Il case Of going West for
us. We are out OF ammunition ald
bombs, and the BoChes have us in a
trap. They will bomb US out. Our
hayoncts are useless here. We will
have to go over and meet them. and
it's a case of thirty to one, so send
every thrust home, and die like the
men Of ID company should. When
give the word, follow me, and up. and
at them. Give them h..l! Lord. IL
We only had II machine gun. we cUul,i
wipe them out. Here they come. l,ct
ready. men"
Just as he finished speaking. the
in their rear rang out. and the front
line of the onrushing Germans secm-
ed to melt away. They waved. but
once again cam" rushing onward.
Down went their second line. The ma
chine gun WAS taking an awful toll of
lives. Then again they tried to ad-
vance. but the machine "un moved
them down. Dropping their rifles and
bombs. they broke and fled in Il wild
rush back 10 their trench. amid the
cheers OF ID" company. They were
forming again for another attempt.
when in the rear Of ID company came
a mighty cheer. The ammunition had
arrived ana with il Il battalion Of
| Scotch To Tc.rnfOiCc them. They were
saved. Ihc unknown machine. gunner
had come to the rescue in the nick of
| time.
With the c-cniOrccmcntS il was an
easy task To take the third German
line.
After the attack was over. the cap
tain and three Of his non commission
cd officers wrndcd their way back to
the position where the machine gun
had done its deadly work. He wanted
to thank the gunner in the name of ID
company for his magnificent deed.
| They arrived at the gun, and an awful
sight met their eyes.
Lloyd had reached the front line
trench. after his company had left il.
y strange company was nimhly crawl
ing up the trench ladders. They were
re endorsements going over. They were
ScottiCs. and they made Il magnificent
l.,t
bare knees.
Jumping over the trench. Lloyd raced
across No Mans Land. unhccdin.S the
rain of bullets. lcaping over dark forms
on the ground some Of which lay still.
while others called out to him rs he
specdcd past.
He came to the German front line.
but il was deserted. except for heaps
of dead and womndcd-a grim tribute
TO the work of his company. good old
ID company. I.caping trenches, and
gasping :or breath. Lloyd could sec
right ahead of him his company III Il
dead ended sap of n communication
trench. and across the open. away in
front OF them, Il mass of Germans pre-
PAIRING for a charge. Why didn't -
company fire on them? Why were they
so strangely silent? What were they
waiting ior? Then hc kncw-tlIcir am
muniiiun was exhausted.
But what was that on his right? \
machine gun. Why didn't it open ii,r.
and save them? He would make TINT
guns crew do their duty. Rushing
over To the gun he saw why il had not
opened fire. Scattered around its base
lay six still forms. They had brouEnt
their gun to consolidat" the capture cd
position. but a German machine gun
had drcrccd they would never lire
again.
Lloyd rushed to the gun and. grasp
ing the traversing handles. trained Il
on tn, Germans. lie pressed the thumb
piece. hut only sharp click was the
result. The gun was unloaded. Then
he realized his hclplossncss. He did
not know how TO load the gun. Oh.
why hadn't he attended the machine
gun course in England" He'd been
offered the chance. but with blush Of
shame he remembered that he had been
afraid The nickname of the machine
gunners had frightened him. They
lwcrr called the "Suicidc club" Now,
because OF this fear, his company
would be- destroyed. the men OF ID
lcompany would have to die. because
he Albert Lloyd. had hcen afraid of n
name. In his shame he cried like n
baby. Anyway he could "<lie with them
and rising to his feet, he stumbled
over the body of one of the sunncrs.
who emitted faint moan. \ glcam
Of hope flashed through him. Perhaps
this man could tell him how to load
the gun. STOPPING over the body he
| gently shook it and the soldier opened
his eyes. Seeing Lloyd. he closed
| them again. and in faint voice said
| Get away, you hlishter. leave me
alone. don't want any coward around
me-
| The words cut Lloyd like knife.
hut he was desperate. Taking the re-
volvcr out OF the holster Of the dying
man he pressed the cold muzzle to the
soldiers head and replied:
| Yes. it is Lloyd. the coward OF
Company ID. hut so help me God. IL
YOU don't tell me how to load that gun
I'll put bullet through your BRAIN"
| 4 sunny smile came over the coun-
tcnancc Of the dying man and he said
in n faint whisper:
| Good old boy. I knew YOU wouldn't
disgrace our company"
| Lloyd interposed: For Gods sake
if you want to save that company you
arc so proud of. tell me how to load
that d--d gum"
As IL reciting lesson In school. the
soldier replied in weak. singsong
-