The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1918-04-04
CHAPTER. viii.
The Little Wooden Cross.

After remaining in rest billetS Tor
eight days, we received the unwelcome
+dirgs that the next morning we would
zoo in" TO "take over" At six in the
morning our march started and, after
long march down the dusty road, we
again arrived at reserve billets.
was No. ! in the leading set of
fours, The man on my left was named
"pete Walling," a CHEEKY sort Of fell
low. He laughed and jOked all the
yay 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 I was limping 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 men in communication
trench have to do to keep in touch with
each other. We had just climbed over
,bashed-in part of the trench when
In our rear 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 f1ashl1ght
saw that he had his hand pressed to
his right breast. The fingers were COW
cred with blood. I flashed the light
Oh his face and in it's glow grayish-
blue color was stealing over his coun-
tenance Pete looked up at me and
said: "Well, 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 ne
gave me a message to write home to
his mother and his sweetheart, and /,
like great big boob, cried like baby.
l 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
stretcher and carried it to the nearest
frst-aid post, where the doctor took
an official record Of Pete'S name, num-
Der, 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
ooys of our section, myself included,
went to the little ruined village in the
rear and from the deserted gardens Of
Tile French chateaux gathered grass
ana flowers. From these we made a
wreath,
While the boys were making this
wreath, l sat under q shot-scarred
apple tree and carved out the follow
my verses on little wooden shield
when we nailed on Pete's cross.
rue TO his God; true to Britain,
long his duty to the last,
JUST one more name to be written
oh the Roll Of Honor Of heroes passed
Fassed to their God, enshrined in glory,
oHlterlng life Of eternal rest,
0r n more chapter in England's story
VI her sons doing their best.
Ssl' you soldier, mate so true,
p-'eVer forgotten by us below;
that we are thinking OF you,
H'e 10 our rest we are hidden to go.
a,e1e morning the whole section went
I've, ef 10 say good-by to Pete, and laid
nlfn away to rest.
A!ter each one had look at the face
AZ tae dead, corporal of the r. A.
w.. ~ seWed up the remains in a blan-
. linen placing two heavy ropes
"S.oSS the stretcher Ito be used in low
~ Ing the body into the grave), we lift
W. rete onto the stretcher, and rev.
i ae covered him with large union
m me flag he had died for.
Yba ne chaplain led the way, then came
two two olncers of the section, followed by
mo,. VI me men carrying a wreath. I'M
f'"'eiy after came poor Pete on the
so1 s5,uraped stretcher, carried by four
HIM G'elS' l was one of the four. Be-
car,a 'lle Stretcher, in column of fours,
~~AilH The -