Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1918-05-09
Over the Top
BY Sergt Arthur Guy Empey

2 4->'t 3H
at them. Give them h-i Lord, II
we only had machine gun, we could
wipe them out Here they come, get
ready, men,"
Just as he finished speaking, the vel.
come 'pup-pup" Of q machine gun in
their rear rang out, and the front line
of the onrushing Germans seemed to
melt away. They wavered, but once
again came rushing onward. Down
went their second line. The machine
gun was taking an awful toll Of lives.
Then again they tried to advance, but
the machine gun moved them down.
Dropping their rifles and bombs, they
broke and fled In q wild rush BACK to
their trench, amid the cheers Of "D".
company. They were forming again
for another attempt, when in the rear
Of D company came mighty cheer.
The ammunition had arrived and with
1t battalion Of Scotch to re-enforce
them. They were saved. The unknown
machine gunner had come to the rescue
In the nick of time.
With the re.enforcemepts It was an
easy task to take the third German
line.
After the attack was over, the CAP
tain and three Of his noncommissioned
officers. wendell 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 D
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. A
strange company was nimbly crawling
up the trench ladders. They were re-
endorsements going over. They were
Scotties, and they made a magnificent
sight in their brightly colored kits and
bare knees.
Jumping over the trench, Lloyd raced
across mo Mans Land" unheeding the
rain Of bullets, leaping over dark forms
on the ground, some Of which lay still,
while others called out to him "a he
speeded past.
He came to the German front line,
but 1t was deserted. except for heaps
Of dead and wounded--a grim tribute
to the work Of his company, good old
D company. Leapng trenches, and
gasping for breath, Lloyd could see
right ahead Of him his company in a
dead-ended sap Of a communication
trench. and across the open, away in
front Of them, mass Of Germans pre-
pairing for a charge. Why didn't d
company fire on them7 Why were they
90 strangely silent1 What were they
waiting for? Then he knew-their am.
munition was exhausted.
But what was that ON his right1 A
machine gun. Why didn't 1t open fire
and save them2 He would make that
guns crew do their duty. Rushing
over to the gun he saw why 1t had not
| opened fire. Scattered around its base
lay SIX still forms. They had brought
their gun to consolidate the captured
position, but German machine gun
had decreed they would never fire
again.
| Lloyd rushed to the gun and, grasp.
ing the traversing handles. trained II
on the Germans. He pressed the thumb
piece. but only sharp click was the
result. The gun was unloaded. Then
he realized his helplessness. 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
were called the Suicide club" Now
because Of this fear. his company
would be destroyed, the men Of D com
pany would have to die, because he
Albert Lloyd, had been afraid Of 8
name. In his shame he cried like 6
baby. Anyway he could die with then
and, rising to his feet, he stumbled
over the body Of one Of the gunners
who emitted faint moan. A CLEAN
Of hope flashed through him. Perhap.
this man could tell him how to load
the gun. STOPPING over the body he
gently shook 1t and the soldier opened
bis eyes. Seeing Lloyd, he CLOSED
them again and. In q faint voice. said
"Get away. you blighter. leave me
alone. don't want any coward arount
me-"
The words cut Lloyd like knife
but he was desperate. Taking the re
volver out Of the holster of the dying
man he pressed the cold muzzle to the
soldiers head and replied:
"Yes. 1t is Lloyd, the coward OF
Company d, but 30 help me God, II
you don't tell me how to load that CUR
III put bullet through your brain =
A sunny smile came over the coun
tenance Of the dying man and he sale
In d faint whisper:
4 "0ood old boy! knew you WOULDN'T
disgrace our company"
1 Lloyd interposed: "For Gods sake
II you want to save that company 70,
are 80 proud of. tell me how to Loaf
that ID gun!"
!! As IL reciting a lesson In school. tn,
soldier replied In weak. singsonl
voice: Insert tag end Of belt in feet
block, with left hand pull belt lef
front. Pull crank handle back on roll
q, let 60, and repeat motion. Gun I.
now loaded. To fire, raise automati,
safety latch. and press thumbpiece
Gun II now firing. II gun stops. ascer
tain position Of crank handle"
But Lloyd waited for no more. Wit