Daily Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1918-191?, 1918-03-14
CHAPTER VII.
The Little wooden cross.


eight days, we received the unwelcom
tidings that the next morning we woull
ego In" TO take over" At six IN IN
morning our march stnrted and, afte
n long march down the dusty road, W,
again arrived at reserve bllleta
was No. In the leading set O
fours. The man on my left was name,
"Pete walling." CHEEKY sort OF fel
low. lie laughed and joked all IN.
way on the march. buoying up m,
dropping spirits. could not figure ouI
anything attractive In agnin occupying
the front line. but Pete did not seem "a
mind, said II was oil In a lifetime. Nfy
left heel was bllstered from the rub.
bling Of my heavy marching boot. Pete
noticed that ] was llmplng and offered
10 carry my rife. but by this time I 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 a communication
trench have to do 20 keep In touch with
each other. We had Just climbed over
bashed-in part Of the trench when
In our rear a man tripped over loose
signal wire, and let out an oath. As
usual. Pete rushed 20 his help. To
reach the fallen man he had 10 cross
this bashed-in part. A bullet cracked
In the air and ducked. Then a moan
from the rear. My heart stood still.
I went back and Pete was lying on the
ground. by the aid Of my nashilght
! saw that he had his hand pressed 10
his right breast. The fingers were GOV.
cred with blood. I flashed the light
on his face and In its glow q grnyish-
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 I had 10
kneel down 10 get his words. Then he
gave me n message 10 write home to
his mother and his sweetheart, and I,
like great big boob. cried like a baby.
I was losing my first friend Of the
trenches.
Word was passed TO the rear for a
stretcher. He died before II arrived.
Two Of us put the body on the
stretcher and carried II 10 the nearest
frst-oid post. where the doctor took
an official record OF Pete's name, num-
Der, rank and regiment from his iden-
tity disk, this 20 be used In the cas-.
ualty lists and notification TO his
family.
We left Pete there. but II broke our
hearts to do so. The doctor Informed
us that we could bury him the next
morning. That afternoon 1--WE OF the
boys Of our section. myself Included,
went 10 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, sat under O shot-schrred |
apple tree and carved out the follow
ing verses on little wooden shield
which we nailed on Pete's cross.
True 20 his God; true 20 Britain.
Doing his duty 70 the last,
Just one more name 10 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 IN Engiand's story
or her sons doing their best
Rest. you soldier. mate 90 true,
Never forgotten by ne below;
Know that we are thinking OF you,
Ere to our rest we are hidden 20 so.
Next morning the whole section went
over 10 say goOd-by 10 Pete, and laid
him away 20 rest.
After each one had a look at the face |
OF the dead. corporal OF the r. A. |
A. c. sewed up the remains IN q blan-
act. Then placing two heavy ropes |
across the stretcher Ito be used In low
ering the body into the gravel, we lift
I'd Pete onto the stretcher. and rev.
erently covered him with a large union |
lack, the flag he had died for.
The chaplain led the way. then came |
he officers OF the section. followed by |
.wo OF the men carrying a wreath. Inn
nediately after came poor Pete on the
stretcher. carried by four
oldlers I was one OF the four. Be
ind the stretcher, In column OF fours.
anne the remainder OF the section.
To get 20 the cemetery. we had 20
ass through the little shell-destroyed
lllnEe, where troops were hurrying
D and fro.
A. the funeral procession passed
hese troops came 90 the 'attention"
nd emar,ly saluied the csaA