The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1918-04-03
Overhead shrapnel was bursting.
I could hear the fragments Sian the


I could hear the fragments slap the
ground. Then I went out once more.
When came to everything was silence
and darkness in No Mans Land.
was soaked with blood and big flap
from the wound in my cheek was hang
ing over my mouth. The blood rum
ming from this flap choked me. Out of
the corner of my mouth l would try
and blow it back. but 1t would not
move. l reached for ny shell dressing
and tried, with one hand. to bandage
my face to prevent the flow. I had
an awful horror Of bleeding to death
and was getting very faint. You would
have laughed If you had seen my
ludicr0us attempts at bandaging with
one hand. The pains in my wounded
shoulder were awful and l was getting
sick at the stomach. l gave up the
bandaging stunt as bad Job, and then
tainted.
When l came to, hell was let loose.
An intense bombardment was on, and
on the whole my position was decided
barrage ceased The silence almost
hurt, but not for long, because Fritz
turned loose with Shrapnel, machine
guns, and rifle fire. Then all along our
line came a cheer and our boys came
over the top in charge. The first
wave was composed OF Jocks" They
were magnificent sight. kits, Tapping
IN the wind, bare knees showing, and
their bayonets glistening. In the first
wave that passed my shell hole, one Of
the "Jocks." an immense fellow, about
SIX feet two inches in height Jumped
right over me. On the right and left
Of me several soldiers In colored kits
were huddled on the ground, then over
came the second wave, also "JOcks."
One young Scottie, when he came
abreast of my shell hole. leaped into
the air, his rifle shooting out Of his
hands. landing about six feet In front
Of him, bayonet first. and stuck In the
ground, the butt trembling. This i'm.
pressed me greatly.
Right now can see the butt Of that
gun trembling. The Scottie made q
complete turn in the air, hit the
ground, rolling over twice. each time
clawing at the earth, and then re.
manned still, about four feet from me.
In sort Of sitting position. 1 called to
him, Are you hurt badly, Jock?" but
no answer He was dead. A dark red
Slnudge was coming through his tunie
right under the heart. The blood ran
down his bare knees, making horrible
sight. On his right side he carried his
water bottle. was crazy for drink
and tried to reach this. but for the life
Of me could not negotiate that four
feet. Then l became unconscious.
When 1 woke up I was in an advanced
first-aid post. l asked the doctor If
We had taken the trench. eve took
the trench and the wood beyond, all
right" he said, land You fellows did
your bit; but, my lad, that was thirty
six hours ago. You were lying in No
Mans Land in that bally hole for day
and half. It's wonder you are alive"
He also told me that out of the twenty
that We're in the raiding party, seven
teen were killed. The officer died of
wounds in crawling back to our trench
and l was severely wounded, but one
fellow returned without scratch, with
out any prisoners. No doubt this chap
was the one who had Sneezed and i'm
properly cut the barbed wire.
In the official communique our trench
raid was described as follows:
"All quiet on the western front, ex-
cepting in the neighbOrhood of Com
mecourt wood, where one Of our raid
ing parties penetrated into the German
lines"
1t Is needless to say that we had no
use for our persuaders or come-alongs.
as We brought back no prisoners. and
until die Old Peppers words. "Per-
sonally don't believe that that part
of the German trench is occupied" will
always come to me when l hear some
fellow trying to get away with a flshy
statement. / will judge 1t accordingly.