American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-07-30
lover the Top"
By An American Soldier
Who Went
ARTHUR GUY EMPEY
Coopynsht iaiT. ST Arthur Guy Emps1,
Msehins Gunner Seroins In France

When Lloyd recovered conscious
ness, he was lying on his right side,
facing what used to be the entrance OF
the guardroom. Now, it was only a
tumble of rent and torn ~sandbags. His
head seemed bursting. He slowly rose
on his elbow. and there In the cas- the
dawn was breaking. Blu what was
that mangled shape lying over there
among the sandbags7 Slowly dragging
himself to 1t. he saw the body of the
sentry. One look was enough to know
that he was dead. The soldiers head
was missing. The sentry had had his
wish gratihed. He had gone home"
He was safe at last from the 'whizz-
bangs" and the Allemand.
Like a fash II came to Lloyd that he
was free. Free to go lover the top
with his company. Free to die like a
true Briton fighting for his king and
country. A great gladness and warmth
came over him. Carefully stepping
yer the body Of the sentry, he started
on a mad race down the ruined street
of the village, amid the bursting shells,
minding them not, lodging through or
around hurrying platoons on their way
to also go "over the top" Coming to
a communication trench he could not
get through. 1t was blocked with laugh
ing, cheering and cursing soldiers.
Climbing out of the trench, he ran
wildly along the top, never needing the
rain of machine-gun bullets and shells.
not ever hearing the shouts Of the Of
fcers, telling hin to get back into the
trench. He was going to join his COM
pany who were in the front line. He
was going to fight with them. He, the
despised coward, had come into his
own.
While he was racing along, jumping
over trenches crowded with soldiers, a
ringing cheer broke out all along the
front line, and his heart sank. He
knew he "a too late. His company
had gone over. But still he ran madly.
He would catch them. He would die
with them.
Meanwhile his company had gone
"over." They, with the other com
panies had taken the first and second
German trenches, and had pushed
steadily on to the third line. D com
eany, led by their captain, the n who
had sent Lloyd to division headquar-
tiers for trial, charged with desertioni
had pushed steadily forward until they
found themselves far in advance OF
the rest Of the attacking force. Bomb
ing out" trench after trench, and using
their b~ayonets, they came to a German
communication trench, which ended ir
a blindsap, and theu the captain, anC
what was left Of his men, knew they
were in a trap. They would not re
tire. D company never retired, anC
they were D company. Right in from
of them they could see hundreds o.
Germans preparing to rush them will
bomb and bayonet. They would hav'
some chance if ammunition and bomb!
could reach them from the rear. Thei
supply was exhausted, and the mel
realized it would be a case of dying
as bravely as possible, or making a ruI
for it. But d company would no
run. 1t was against their tradition
and principles.
The Germans would have to advanc
across an open space of three to fou
hundred yards before they could &c
within bombing distance of the trench
and Their it would be all their own way
Turning to his company, the captaii
said:
Men, it's a case of going West TO
us. We are out of ammunition an
bombs, and the Boches have us In
trap. They will bomb US out. Gu
bayonets are useless here. We wi
have to go over and meet them, an
it's a Ease Of thirty to one, so sen
every thrust home, and die like tn
men Of D company should. When
give the word, follow me, and up an