Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1918-06-14
CHAPTER VIZ.

The Little wooden Cross.

AFTER remaining III rest DiheSo Aoa
eight days, we received the unwelcome
tldings that the next morning we would
"go In" to stake over" AT six In the
morning our march started and. after
q long march down the dusty road, we
ngain arrived at reserve blllets.
I was No. / in the leading set Of
fcurs. The man on my left was named
'sPete Walflng." CHEEKY sort of fell
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. but Pete did not seem to
mind. said it was all In a lifetime. My
left heel was blistered from the rub
hing OF my heavy marching boot. Pete
noticed that was Iimping and offered
to carry my rife. but by this time had
learned the ethics of the march In the
British army and courteously refused
his offer,
We had gotten halfway through the
communication trench, Pete In my i'm
mediate rear. He had his hand on my
shoulder, as melt In a communication
trench have to do TO keep In touch with
each other. We had just climbed over
bashedin part of the trench when
In our rear a man tripped over loose
signal wire, and let out an oath. AS
usual, Pete rushed to his help. To
reach the fallen man he had to cross
this bashed-in part. A bullet cracked
IN the air and ducked. Then moan
from the rear. My heart stood still.
went back and Pete was lying on the
ground. BY the aid of my flashllght
/ saw that he had his hand pressed to
his right breast. The fingers were COW
cred with blood. ] flashed the light
on his face and in its glow graylsh-
blue color was stealing over his coun-
tenance. Pete looked up at me and
said: swell, Yank, they've done me In.
/ can feel myself going West" His
voice was getting fainter and had to
kneel down to get his words. Then be
gave me message to write home to
his mother and his sweetheart. and 1,
like great big boob. cried like baby
was losing my frst friend Of the
trenches.
Word was passed to the rear for a
stretciaer. He died before 1t arrived
Two Of us put the body on the
stretcher and carried 1t to the nearest
lrst-aid post, where the doctor took
an official record Of Pete's name, mum.
her, rank and regiment from his iden.
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 eur 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 Q
wreath.
While the boys were making this
wreath. sat under shot-scarred
apple tree and carved out the follow
ing verses on a little wooden shield
which we nailed on Pete'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 enshrfned In glory
Entering life OF eternal rest. Ass.
One more chapter in England's story
OF her sons doing their best
Hest. you soldier. mate so true
Never forgotten by us below:
Know that we are thinking of you,
Hrs to our rest we are hidden to CO.
Next morning the whole section wenI
over to say gOod-by to Pete. and laid
him away to rest.
After each one had a look at the face
of the dead, corporal Of the r. A
NJ. O. sewed up the remains In a bIan
ket. Then placing tive heavy ropes
across the stretcher Ito be used In low,
ering the. body. into. the gravel, we lift
ed Pete onto the stretcher and rev
erently covered him with a large union
lack. the flag he had died for. Ill
The chaplain led the way, then came
.the officers Of the section. followed b
twU Of the men carryinga wreath. I'm
mediateiy after came poor Pete on the
fiag-drapcd stretcher. carried by foul
soldiers. 1 was one of the four. Be
hiad the strefcher. In column Of fours
came the rsnlairder af the section.