Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-29

sentry. singing In low tone, came to
him. He was singing the chorus Of
tho popular trench ditty:
Il want to go homo. want to go home
don't want to go to the trenches no
more.
Where tho 'whizzbanGs' and 'sausages'
roar galore.
Take me over tho sea. where tho Allie
mand can't get at me.
Oh my. l don't want TO die! want
TO go home"
Lloyd listened to the words with a
strange interest. and wondered what
kind CT homo he would go TO across
the Great Divide. 1t would be the only
home he had ever known.
Suddenly there came a great rushing
through the air. n binding flash.
deafcning report. and the snndbag walls
of the suardroom toppled over, and
observation-disclosures.
When Lloyd recovered consciousness
he WAS lying on his right side, facing
what used tc be the entrance of tho
guardroom. Now, 1t was only n tumble
OF rent and torn sandbags. His head
seemed bursting. He slowly rose on
his elbow. and there In the east the
dawn was breaking. But what was
that mangled shape lying over there
among the sandbags? 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
wish grntihed- He had "gone home"
lie was safe at last from the "whizz-
bangs" and the Allemand.
Like fash 1t camo to Lloyd that
he was free. Free TO so "over the
top" with his company. FREQ to die
like true Briton fighting for his
King and country. great gladness
fully stepping over the body of the
sentry. he started on a mad race down
the ruined streets of the village, amid
the bursting shells. minding them not.
lodging through or around hurrying
piatoons on their way to also go "over
the top" Coming to a communication
trench no could not get through 1t
was blocked with laughing. cheering
and curslng soldiers. Climbing out OF
the trench. he ran wildly along tho
top. never needing the rain OF ma
chine-gun bullets and shells, not even
hearing the shouts of the officers, tell
ing him to get back into the trench.
He was going to join his company
who were in the front line. FIo was
going TO fight with them. He. the de-
spised coward. had come into his own.
While he was racing along. jumping
over trenches crowded with soldiers.
4 ringing cheer broke out all along
the front line. and his heart sank. He
knew he was too late. His company
had gone over. But still he ran madly.
lie would catch them. Iio 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 10"
Company led by their captain. the one
who had sent Lloyd to division head
quarters for trial. charged with deser-
ton. had pushed steadily forward until
they found themselves far In advance
OF the rest of the attacking force
bombing out" trench after trench. and
using their bayonets. they came to
German communication trench. which
ended in n blindsap. and then the cap
tain. and what was left OF his men.
knew they were In n trap. They would
not retire. I'D" Company ncvor retired.
and they were ID" Company. Right
in front of them they could see hun
dreds OF Germans preparing TO rush
them with bomb and bayonet. They
would have some chance Ii ammuni-
ton and bombs could reach them from
the rear. Their supply was exhausted.
and the men realized 1t would be a
case of dying as bravely as possible, or
making a run for II. But I'D" Com
pany would not run. 1t was against
their traditions and principles.
(.nr