The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1918-04-11
CHAPTER VII.
The little Wooden Cross.

eight days, we received the unwelCOmC
tidings that the next morning we would
''go In to take oycr.' At six in the
morning our march started and, after
a long march down the dusty road, we
again arrived at reserve bilIctS.
was No. in the leading set Of
fours. The man on my left was named
"Pcte WalIing," n chccry sort Of fel-
low. He laughed and joked all the
way on the march, buoying up my
dropping spirits. could not figure out
anything attractive in again occupying
the front line hut Pete did not seem to
mind, said 1t was all in lifetime. My
left heel was biStCrcd from the rub
bing Of my heavy marching boot. Pete
noticed that | was limping and offered
to carry my rifle, but by this time had
learned the ethics of the march In the
British army and cOurteousIy refused
his offer.
We had gotten halfway through the
communication trench, Pete in my i'm
mediate rear. lie had his hand on my
shoulder, ms men in communication
trench have to do to keep In touch with
each other. We had just climbed over
bashed-ln part of the trench when
in our rear mGn tripped over loose
signal wire, and let out an oath. As
usual, Pete rushed 70 his help. To
reach the fallen man he had to cross
this baShed-ln part. A bullet cracked
In the air and ducked Then a moan
from the rear. Ny heart stood still.
went back and Pete was lying on the
ground. BY the aid of my flashlight
saw that he had his hand pressed to
his right breast. The fingers We're COW
cred with blood. l flashed the light
on his face and in its glow a graylsh-
blue color was stealing over his coun-
tennnce. Pete looked up at me and
said: "Well, Yank, they've done me In.
l can feel myself going Vest His
voice was getting fainter and had TO
kneel down to get his words. Then he
gave me u message to write home TO
his mother and his sweetheart, and I,
like q great big boob, cried like baby.
was losing my first friend of the
trenches.
Word was passed to the rear for a
stretCher. He died before It arrived.
Two of us put the body on the
stretChcr and carried It to the nearest
first-aid post, where the doctor took
an official record Of PetC'S name, num-
Der, rank and regiment from his idcn-
tity disk, this to be used In the cas-
ualty lists and notification to his
family.
We left Pete there, but It broke our
| hearts to do SO. The doctor informed
us that we could bury him the next
| morning. That afternoon five Of the
boys Of our section, myself included
went to the little ruined village in the
rear and from the deserted gardens Of
the French chateaux gathered grass
and flowers. From these we made a
wreath.
While the boys were making this
wreath, I sat under shot.scarrcd
apple tree and carved out the follow
ing verses on little wooden shield
which we nailed on Pcte's cross
True to his God; true to Britain,
Doing his duty to the last.
Just one more name to be written
On the Roll Of Honor Of heroes passed
Passed to their God. enshrined in glory,
Entering life of eternal rest.
| One more chapter I'm EnEland's story
OF her sons doing their best
| Rest, you soldier mate so true,
Never forgotten by us below
Know that we are thinking of you,
Ere to our rest we are biiden to go.
Next morning the whole section went
over to say good.by to Pete, and laid
him away to rest.
After eNCh one had look at the face
Of the dead, corporal Of the Il. A..
NJ. G. sewed up the remains IN blan.
ket. Then placing two heavy ropes
across the stretcher Ito be used In low.
ering the body into the gravel, We llft-
ed Pete onto the stretcher, and rev.
erently covered him with large union
Jack, the flag he had died for.
The chaplain led the way, then came
the officers of the section, followed by
two Of the men carrying wreath. I'm
medlately after came poor Pete on the
fiGg.draped stretcher, carried by four
soldiers. vas one of the four. Be-
hind the stretcher. In column of fOurs,
came the remainder of the section.
TO get to the cemetery, we had ia
pass through the little shell.destroyed
village, where troops were hurrylng
to and fro.
As the funeral procession passed
these troops came TO the attention
and smartIy snluted the dead.
J Poor Pete was receiving the only sa'