The Washington herald., 1918-02-16
CHAPTER VIII.
The Little Wooden Cross.

After remaining in rest billets for
eight days. we receive the unwelcome
tidlngs that next morning we would
go in" to take over" At In the
morning our march started and, after
long march down the dusty road.
we again arrive at reserve billets.
I was No. 1 in the leading set OK
as. The man on my left was named
Pete walling," a CHEEKY sort OF fel-
low. He laughed and Joked all the
way on the march, buoyed up my
dropping spirits. could not figure
out anything attractive In again oc-
cupying the front line. but Pete did
not seem to mind. said IL was all I'm a
lifetime. My left hell was blistered
from the rubbing Of my heavy march
ing boot. Pete noticed that I was
limping and offered to carry my rife,
but by this time I had learned the
ethics of the march in the British
army and courteously refused the Of
fer.
We had gotten half way through
the communication trench. Pete I'm my
immediate rear. He had his hand on
my shoulder We had climbed over
a bashed-in part of the trench when
in our rear a man tripped over a
loose signal wire, and let out an
oath. AS usual. Pete rushed to his
help. To reach the fallen man. he
had to cross this bashed-in part. A
bullet cracked in the air and duck
ed. Then a moan from the rear. Ny
heart stood still. went back and
Pete was lying on the ground: by the
aid Of my fiashlight, saw that he
had his hand pressed to his right
rest. The fingers were covered with
blood. flashed the light on his face.
and in its glow a grayish-blue color
was stealing over his countenance.
Pete looked up at me and said: "well.
Yank, they've done me in. I can feel
myself going west" His voice was
getting fainter and had to kneel
down to get the words. Then he gave
me message to write home to his
mother and his sweetheart. and I.
like a great big boob, cried hike
baby. l was losing my first friend of
the trenches.
Word was passed to the rear for
stretcher. He died before it arrived.
Two of US put the body on the
stretcher and carried Il to the nearest
first-aid post, where the doctor took
shA iSNOIN tNt nhAuNF
number rank, and regiments from his
identity disk, this to be used in the
casualty list and notification to his
family.
We left Pete there, but It broke
our hearts to do so. The doctor in
formed us that We could bury him the
next morning. That afternoon, five
of the boys in our section, myself in
cluded. went to the little ruined viii
lage in the rear and from the desert
ed gardens of the French chateaux
gathered grass and flowers. From
these we made a wreath.
While the boys were making this
wreath. I sat under q shot-scarred
apple tree and carved out the follow
ing verses on little wooden shield
which we nailed on Pete's cross:
True to his God: true to Britain,
Doing his duty to the last,
Just one more name to 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 England's story
OF her sons doing their best.
Rest, you soldier, mate, so true,
Never forgotten by us below;
Know that we are thinking Of you,
Ere to our rest we are hidden to go. !
Next morning the whole section
went over to say good-by to Pete, |
and laid him away to rest
After each one had a look at the !
face Of the dead. q corporal OF the |
R. A. NJ. c. sewed up the remains in |
n blanket. Then placing two heavy |
ropes across the stretcher ito be used |
In lowering the body into the gravel !
we lifted Pete onto the stretcher. and |
reverently covered him with a large |
Union Jack, the flag he had died t0s !
The chaplain led the way, then |
,ame the officers of the section. fol- !
owed by two OF the men carrying the !
wreath. Immediately after came poor
Pete on the fiag-draped stretoher.
carried by four soldiers. I was one !
II the four. Behind the stretcher. in I
'olumn Of fours, came the remainder
" the section