The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1918-03-15

One OF the Dig
front line Tommy had stuck up q
wooden signpost with three hands or
arms on it. One of the hands, point
ing to the German lines, read, ITO Ber-
lin;' the one pointing down the com.
munication trench read, TO Blighty,'
while the other said, Suicide Ditch,
Change Here for Stretchers.'
Farther down from this guide post
the trench ran through an old orchard.
On the edge Of this orchard our bat
terry had constructed an advanced OBJ
servation post. The trees screened it
from the enemy airmen and the roof
was turfed. 1t wasn't cushy like ours,
no timber or concrete re-enforcements,
just walls Of sandbags. From it
splendid view of the German lines
could be obtained. This post wasn't
exactly safe. 1t was a hot corner.
shells plunking all around, and the
bullets cutting leaves off the trees.
Many O time when relieving the sig
naler at the phone, I had to crawl on
my belly like a worm to keep from
being hit.
'It was an observation post sure
enough That's all the use it was. Just
observe all day, but never message
back for our battery to open up. You
see, at this point Of the line there
were strict orders not to fire she'll,
,ploce e,,oo;ollp orSora6 to do co fron,
brigade headquarters. Blime me, If
anyone disobeyed that command, our
general-yes, it was Old Pepper
would have court-martialed the whole
expeditionary force. Nobody went out
of their way to disobey Old Pepper in
those days, because he couldn't be
called a parson; he was more like a
pirate. If at any time the devil should
feel lonely and sigh for a proper mate,
Old Pepper would get the first call.
Facing the Germans wasn't half bad
compared with an interview with that
old firebrand.
"If company or battalion should /
give way a few yards against a SUI
perior force OF Boches, Old Pepper
would send for the commanding Off |
GER. In about half an hour the officer /
would come back with his face the .
color of q i,rfck, and in few hours |
what was left of his command would !
be holding their original position.
81 have seen an officer who wouldn't |
say d-n for thousand quid spend |
five minutes with the old boy, and
when he returned the flow Of language
from his lips would make navy
blush for shame.
What am going to tell you is how
two of US put it over on the old scamp,
and got away with it. It was risky
thing too, because Old Pepper wouldn't
have been exactly mild with US II he
had got next to the game.
ME and my mate. a lad named Har-
ry CaSsell, bombardier in D 29S bat
terry. or lance corporal, as you call it =
in the infantry, used to relieve the !
telephonists. We would do two hours !
on and four Off. | would be on DUTY |!
in the advanced observation post, |
while he would be at the other end Of !
the wire in the battery dugout signal |
ing station. We were supposed to send |
through orders for the battery to fire |
when ordered to do so by the observa- |
ton officer in the advanced post. But |
very few messages were sent. 1t was |
only in case of an actual attack that !
we would get chance to earn our !
two and six day. You see. Old Pep |
per had issued orders not to fire ex- |
cept when the orders came from him. |
And with Old Pepper orders is orders,
and made to obey.
'The Germans must have known |
about these orders, for even in the day !
their transports and troops used to