The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1919-05-23

ond to Hungry Foxcrcfs. After lap
ping all he could hold our mascot
closed his eyes and his tail ceased
wagging. Sailor Bill took dry fan
mel shirt from his pack. wrapped the
dog in it and informed u.s.
me and my mate are going below,
so the rest of you lubbers batten down
and turn in"
We all wanted the honor Of sleeping
with the dog, but did not dispute Sail
or Bills right to the privilege. BY
this time the bunch were pretty sleepy
and tired, and turned in without much
coax.ng, as it was pretty near day
break.
Next day we figured out that per-
haps one Of the French Riddles had
put the dog In the grain bin, and, in
the excitement of packing up and leav-
ing, had forgotten he was there.
Sailor Bill was given the right to
christen our new mate. He called him
Jim. In a couple of days Jim came
around all right, and got very frisky.
Every man in the section loved that
dog.
Sailor Bill was court-martialed for
his mixup with the quartermaster-ser-
geant, and got seven days field pun
ishment No. /. This meant that two
hours each day for week he would
be tied to the wheel Of timber. Dur
ing these two-hour periods Jim would
be at Bits feet, and. no matter how
much we coaxed him with choice NOR
sells of food, he would not leave until
Bill was united. When Bill was loose
Jim would have nothing to do with him
just walked away In contempt. Jim
respected the kings regulations, and
had no use for defaulters.
At special meeting held by the
section Jim had the oath Of allegiance
read to him. He barked his consent
so we solemnly swore him in as a
soldier of the Imperial British army
fighting for king and country. jim
made a better soldier than any one
of US, and died for his king and cOun-
try. Died without whimper of COM
plant.
From the village we made several
trips to the trenches; each time jim
accompanied us. The first time under
fire he put the stump of his tail be
tween his legs, but stuck to his post
When carrying in if we neglected tC
give Jim something to carry, he would
make such a noise barking that VIZ
soon fixed him up.
Each day Jim would pick out diff
ferent man of the section to follow
He would stick to this man. eating ant
sleeping with him, until the next day
and then it would be some one else!
turn. When a man had Jim with him
it seemed as if his life were charmed
No matter what he went through, h
would come out safely. We looked up
on Jim as a good-luck sign, and be
lieve me, he was.
| Whenever it came lkey Honey
turn for Jim's company, he was over
| joyed, because Jim would sit in dignl
fed silence, listening to the jew's-harr
Honey claimed that Jim had a sou
for music, which was more than h
would say about the rest of US.
Once. at daybreak, we had to g
over the top in an attack. A man II
the section named Dalton was select
ed by Jim as his mate in this affair.
The crew of gun No. 2 were to sta.
| in the trench for overhead fire pur
poses, and, if necessary, to help re
pei a probable counter-attack by tn
enemy. Dalton was very merry, AM
hadn't the least fear or misgivings a
to his safety, because Jim would b
with him through it all.
| In the attack, Dalton, closely follow
ed by Jim. had got about sixty yard
into No Mans land, when Jim was hi
! in the stomach by bullet. Poor oil
Jim toppled over, and lay still. Daltol
| turned around, and, just as he did sc
we saw him throw up his hands an
fall face forward.
key Honey, who was No. 8 on GU
gun, seeing Jim fall, scrambled owe
the parapet, and, through that rain o
shells and bullets, raced to where JiI
was, picked him up, and tucking mir
under his arm, returned to our trenc
in safety. If he had gone to rescue
wounded man in this way he woul
have no doubt been awarded the Viz
toria Cross. But he only brought i
poor bleeding, dying Jim.
key laid him on the firestep alons
size of our gun, but we could not al
| tend to him, because we had importan
work to do. So he died like soldier
without a look of reproach for on
heartless treatment. Just watched on
every movement until his lights Burn
ed out. After the attack, what was LEI
of our section gathered around Jim
bloodstained body. There wasn't dr.
eye in the crowd.
Next day we wrapped him in sma
Union Jack belonging to Happy, an
laid him to rest, Soldier Of the Kin.
We put little wooden cross owe
his grave which read:
PRIVATE JIM,
MACHINE-GUN COMPANYl
|