The Robesonian., 1918-06-17
Mud, Rats and Shells.

Suddenly, tEe earth seemed 10 snake
and q thunderclap burst in my ears. !,
opened rly eyeS-I was splashed all
over with sticky mud, and men were
picking themselves up from the bottom
of the trench. The parapet on my left
had toppled into the trench, completely
blocking 1t with a wall Of tossed-up
earth. The man on my left lay still.
rubbed the mud from my face, and an
awful sight met my gaze-his head
was smashed to pulp, and his steel
helmet was full of brains and blood.
A German Minnie" (trench mortar)
had exploded in the next traverse. Men
were digging into the soft mass of mud
In frenzy Of haste. Stretcher-bear-
ers came up the trench on the double.
After few minutes Of digging. three
still, muddy forms on stretchers were
carried down the communication
trench to the rear. Soon they would
be resting somewhere in France" with
little wooden cross over their heads.
They had done their bit for king and
country, had died without firing shot,
but their services were appreciated,
nevertheless.
Later on, 1 found out their names.
They belonged to our draft.
I was dazed and mOtionless. Sud-
denly a shovel was pushed into my
hands, and a rough but kindly voice
said:
"Here, my lad, lend hand clearing
the trench. but keep your head down,
and look out for snipers. One of the
Fritz's is a daisy, and he'll get you If
you're not careful"
Lying on my belly on the bottom of
the trench, I filed sandbags with the
sticky mud, they were dragged to my
| rear by the other men, and the work of
| rebuilding thea parapet was ON. The
| harder I worked, the better felt. AL
| though the weather was cold, was
soaked with sweat.
Occasionally bullet would crack
| overhead, and machine gun would
kick up the mud on the bashed-in para
| pet. At each crack would duck and
shield my face with my arm. One of
the older men noticed this action Of
mine, and whispered:
Don't duck at the crack of q bull
let, Yank the danger has passed-you
never hear the one that wings you.
Always remember that If you are going
to get it, you'll get it, SO never worry
j This made great impression on me
at the time, and from then on, I adopt.
ed his motto, IF you're going to get It
you'll get It."
It helped me wonderfully. I used Il
so often afterwards that some Of my
mates dubbed me, IF you're going tc
get it, you'll get it."
After an hours hard work, all my
nervousness left me, and was laugh
ing and joking with the rest.
1 At one o'clock, dinner came up ii
the form of dixie of hot stew.
i I looked for my canteen. It hat
fallen off the fire step, end was hal
buried in the mud. The man on m,
left noticed this, and told the corporal
dishing out the rations, to put m,
share in his mess tin. Then he whfs
pered to me, always take care Of you
mess tin, mate"
had learned another maxim Of th
trenches.
That stew tasted fine. I was q
! hungry as bear. We had seconds,
or another helping, because three G
the men had 'gone West" killed b
the explosion Of the German trenc
mortar, and we ate their share, b,
still was hungry, so filed in wit
bully beef and biscuits. Then draine
> my water bottle. Later on I learne
another maxim of the front line, &C
sparingly with your water" The bull
beef made me thirsty, and by tea tin
| was dying for drink, but my prit
would not allow me to ask my mat,
for water. I was fast learning IL
IL ethics of the trenches.
lr That night was put on guard wi
y an Older man. We stood on the fl
IS step with our hands over the top, pee
al ing out into No Mans Land. It w
le nervous work for me, but the other f,
n- low seemed to take it as part Of Il
~ nights routine.
Ia Then something shot past my fat
e- My heart stopped beating, and duck
in my head below the parapet. A SC
~ chuckle from my mate brought me
Ia my senses, and feebly asked, "F
~ heavens sake, what was that?"
III He answered. "Only q rat taking
IN promenade along the sandbags."
- felt very sheepish.
About every twenty minutes the s,
!. try in the next traverse would fire
,r star shell from his flare pistol. I
''plop" would give me a start of frig
l never got used to this noise duri
~ my service in the trenches.
es l would watch the arc described
ne the star she'll, and then stare into
" Mans Land waiting for it to burst.
~ Its lurid light the barbed wire 8
a. stakes would be silhouetted against
a light like latticed window. TT
'th darkness.
IN. once, out in front of our wire
ny heard q noise and saw dark for