The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1918-03-12
: CHAPTER vi. :,

eS1S
|, CHAPTER W.
"Baek Of the LIne."f
Our tour in the front-line trench
lasted four days, and then we were
relieved blythe brigade.
Going down the communication
trench we, were in q merry mood, al
though We were cold and wet, and
every bone in u bodies ached. 1t
makes a lot rof difference whether you
are "goinx 70" or "going out"
At the end of the communication
trench, lfmbers were waiting on the
road for us. I thought we were going
to ride back, to rest billets, but soon
found out that the only time an in
fantryman rides Is when he Is
wounded and is bound for the base or
Blghty. These limbers carried our
reserve ammunition and rations> Our
march to nest billets was thoroughly
enjoyed by me. It seemed as If l
were on furlough, and vas leaving be-
hind every Thing that was disagree
able and horrible. Every recruit feels
this way after being relieved from the
trenches. !; =
We marched eight kilos and then
halted In fnont Of aiFrench estaminet.
The captain gave the order to turn
out on EACH side of the.road and wait
his returnl Pretty soon he came back
and told ID company to occupy billets
III, lib and 119. Billet III was an
old stable which had previously been
sccupiedtb by cows. About four feet IN
front Of the entrance was'a huge ma
nure pile, and the odor from 1t wa
anything; but pleasant. Using my
aashlightd stumbled through the door.
Just before entering I observed a
white sign reading: Sitting so, lying
20,". butt bat the time, its significance
did not fsstriks me. Next morning I
asked fhe sergeant major what 1t
meant. He nonchalantly answered:
"Thfft's some of the work of the r.
A. N. &c. Royal Army Medical CORPSE.
It simply means that in case Of an at
tack, this billet will accommodate
fifty wounded who are able to sit up
and take notice, or twenty stretcher
cases."
ItSwas 'notalong afterithis that I was
onsFof the "S0 lying"
= soon hit; the hay and was fast
asleep, even my friends the "cooties"
failed ITO disturb me.
The next morning at about six
o'clock I was awakened by the lance
corporal Of .our section, informing me
that I had been detailed as mess or
derry, and ito report to the cook and
npe him a hand. I helped him make
my head below the parapet. A soft
chuckle fl ON my mate brought me to
sense: l. and 1 feebly asked, For
heavens : ake, what was that"
he ans Hered. "Only a rat taking a
promenad e along the sandbags." I
felt very ~;sk,eepish.
About e We ry twenty minutes the SEN
try in thet 1lext traverse would fire a
star shell from his flare pistol. The
"plop" VIC JUDI give me a start Of fright.
I never ftot ,used to this noise during
my service ID the trenches.
I would wa tch the arc described by
the STAR SHELLY and then stare into No
Mans Land wa iting for it to burst. In
Its lur4 i'd light the barbed wire and
stakes( would be silhouetted against its
light like a lt tticed window. Then
Or,ce, out ina of our wire, I
heard a Noise and saw dark forms
Dying. My rifle was lying across the
Itarapet. I reached for 1T,
and vas tax ing aim to fire, when my
mate. graspedi my arm, and whispered,
DON'T fire." He challenged in a low
voice. The I eply came back instantly
from the dar K forms:
"Shut 70, r blinkin' mouth, you
blonmin' lido +; do you want US to click
It from the ! }oches?
Later we Il sarned that the word, "No
challenging u firing, wiring party out
'front.'" ha, J been given to the sentry
on. our right, but he had failed to pass
It down the t rench. An officer had over
heard our eh Suense and the reply, and
Immediately put the offending sentry
under arre + Ths sentry clicked