The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1918-07-26
CHAPTER VIII.
The Little Wooden Cross.


tldlngs that the next morning we WOULD
ego Ia" 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," q CHEEKY sort of fell
low. He laughed and joked all the
way on the march, buOylng up my
dropping spirits. could not figure out
anything attractive in again occupying
the front line but Pete did not seem to
mind said 1t was all in lifetime. My
left heel was bllstered from the rub
bing Of my heavy marching boot. Pete
noticed that I was llmping and offered
to carry my rifle, 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
mediats 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
a basned-in part of the trench when
in oGr 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-ln 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 tlashli2ht
I saw that he had his hand pressed to
his right breast. The fingers were cov-
cred with blood. l flashed the light
On his face and in its glow a grayish-
Ilue color was stealing over his coun-
tcnancc. Pete looked up at me and
raid: "Well, Yank, they've done me in.
! can feel myself going West" His
voice was getting fainter and I had TO
kneel down to get his words. Then he
gave me n message to write home to
his mother and his sweetheart, and |,
like a great big boob, cried like baby
] was losing my first friend of the
trenches.
Word was passed to the rear for q
mretcher. He died before it arrived.
Two of us put the body on the
Btretcher and carried it to the nearest
tirst-aid post, where the doctor took
aa official record of Pete'S name, num-
Ter, rank and regiment from his iden-
tity disk, this to be used in the cas-
uaIty LISTS and notification to his
family.
We left Thte there, but 1t broke our
hearts to do so. The doctor Informed
us that we could bury him the next
morning. That afternoon five of the
boys Vt our section. myself included,
went TO the little ruined village In the
rear ind from the deserted gardens of
the French chateaux gathered grass
ana flowers. From these we made a
wreath.
while the boys were making this
Nfeath, 1 SGT under shot-scarred
apple tree and carved out the follow
trg verses on little wooden shield
which we nailed on Pete'S cross.
2'rue to his God; true to Britain,
Doing his duty to the last,
cTEst one more name to be written
On the Roll Of Honor of heroes passed |
Passed to their God, enshrned in glory
Entering life OF eternal rest.
Oae more chapter in England'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 bidden to CO.
Next morning the whole section went !
over to say good-by to Pete, and laid |
him away to rest.
After each one had n look at the face |
of the dead, a corporal of the r. A.
NJ. C. sewed up the remains in blan-
kct. Then placing two heavy ropes
across the stretcher Ito be used in low
erfng the body into the gravel, we lift
ed Pete onto the stretcher, and rev.
erently covered him with a 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 a wreath. I'm
mediately after came poor Pete on the
fiag-draped stretcher, carried by four
soldiers. l was 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 to
pass through the little shell-destroyed
village, where troops were hurrying
to and fro.
AS the funeral procession passed
these troops came to the attention"
and smartly saluted the dead.
Poor Pete was receiving the only sa-
lutte a private Is entitled to "some-
where In France"
Now and again a shell from the Ger
man lines would go whistling over the
village to burst In our artillery lines
IN the rear.
When we reached the cemetery we
halted in front Of an open grave, and
laid the styetcher beside 1t. Forming