Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1918-05-10
CHAPTER v.
Mud, Rats and Shells.

l must have slept for two or three
hours, not the refreshing kind that re-
suits from clean sheets and soft nil
lows, but the sleep that comes from
cold, wet and sheer exhaustion.
suddenly. the earth seemed TO shake
and thundepclap burst in my ears.
opened my eyes-I was spashed all
over with sticky mud, and men were
picking themselves up from the bottom
or the trench. The parapet on my left
had toppled into the trench, completely
blocking II with 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 mortnr)
had exploded in the next traverse. Men
were digging into the soft mass of mud
III 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 i'm France" with
little wooden cross over their heads
They had done their bit for king and
country, had died without firing shot.
nut their services were appreciated.
nevertheless.
Later on, ! found out their names
They belonged to our draft.
was daZed and motionless. Sud.
denly shovel was pushed into my
hands, and n rough but kindly voice
said:
Here, my lad, lend hand clearing
the trench, but keep your head down.
ana look out for snipers. One of the
.fritz's Is daisy, and he'll get you II
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 INV
rear by the other men, and the WORK of
rebuilding the parapet was on. The
harder ! worked. the better felt. Al
though the weather was cold, | was
soaked with sweat
occasionally a bullet would crack
overhead, and n 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 bul.
let, fank; the danger has passed-you
never near the one that wings you.
Always remember that If you are going
to get 1t, you'll get it, so never worry"
This made great impression on me
AT the time, and from then on, / adopt-
ed his motto, IF you're going to get II.
yOu'll get It,"
1t helped me wonderfully. I used II
so often afterwards that some of nv
mates dubbed me, "If you're going To
get 1t, you'll get It,"
After an hours hard work. all my
nervousness left me, and / was laugh.
ing and Joking with the rest.
At one o'clock. dinner came I'M I'm
the form of dixie of hot stew.
| looked for my canteen. II had
fallen off the fire step, and was half
buried in the mud. The man on nv
left noticed this, and told the corporal,
diShlng out the rations TO put my
share in his mess tin. Then he whis-
p'red To me, always take care of your
mess tin, mate"
hnd learned another maxim of the
trenches.
That stew tasted fine. | was ms
hungry ms n bear, We had Seconds"
or another helping, because three Of
the men had gone West" killed by
The explosion of the German trench
mortar, aud we ate their share hut
Nii'l ! was hungry so ! filled in with
bully beef and biscuits. Then drained
my waiter bottle. Later on I learned
another maSim of the front line. "Go
3WrtnSly with your water" The bully
beef made me thirsty, ana by tea time
was dying for drink. but my pride
would not allow me to ask my mates
for water / Nas fast learning The
r.hIo OF the trenches.
That nigh ! was put on guard with
an Older man. We stood ON the fire
step with our hands over the top. peer
ing ont into no Mans Land II was
nervous work for me, but the other fcl-
low seemed 10 take II as part of the
nights routine.
Then something shot past nv iacc.