The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times., 1919-06-05
There were six Of us.

-6-
There were six Of us.
Curly" Wallace was called "Curly"
because he had the cutest little Della
Fox. or spit curl, as the gum-chewers
call II. you ever saw. Wallace was
proud of tina. curl, and gave 1t the
best OF attention and care. He was
Scotch.
Happy" Houghton earned his nick
name by his constant smile and happy
disposition. He was English, q Lon
doner
Hungry Foxcroft really earned his
title. He took special pains that our
eations would not become mildewed by
lying around too long In the dampness
Of our dugout. He was English; also
from London.
"Tkey" Honney. dubbed 'Tkey" be-
cause In one Of our theatrical at
tempts he took the part Of "Ikey Co
henstein." and made quite hit. Eng
lsh. via London.
'Dlck" Turpin. called "Dick" In
memory of the notorious highwayman.
de used to help the quartermaster SER
geant. so the name was very appropri-
ate. He was Irish, from Dublin.
was the sixth. The boys put the
Prefix "Yank" to my name, because
vas american and hailed from the
big Town" behind the statue Of lib
erty.
TIE six of us composed the crew Of
gun No. 2 Of the -th brigade ma
chine company. We were machine
gunners and our gun was the Vickers,
light, 303, water.cooled.
It was rainy afternoon In June,
and we were sitting IN our dugout In
the front-line trench, about 300 yards
from the German lines.
II you should ask Tommy Atkins
"what Is n dugoutT" he would look at
you in astonishment. and. plying you
for your apparent lack Of education,
would answer, whats dugout?
Why dugout Is a-well, dugout's a
dugout" Only being Tommy pro
tem-pro TEN In my case meaning "for
duration Of war"-I will try to de-
scribe TO the best Of my ability this
particular dugout.
dugout Is hole In the ground.
Gets Its name because 1t is dug out
by the Royal Engineers, or r. Els as
we call them. II Is used to shelter the
men In the trenches from shell fire,
They also sleep In IL, or try to. From
Jur point OF view, its main use is 10
drain the trenches OF muddy water
and give us rheumatism. II also
makes a good hotel for rats. These
guests look upon us as Intruders and
complain that we overcrowd the place.
Occasionally we give In 10 them, and
take q turn in the trench 20 rest our.
selves.
Our dugout was about twenty feat
deep, or, at least, tncre were twenty
wooden steps leading down TO It. The
ceiling and walls were braccd by
heavy, square-cut tlmbers. over the
timbers In the ceiling sheets of cor
rugated iron were spread 10 keep the
wet earth from falling In on us. TIE
entrance was heavily saHdhagged and
very narrow; there vas only room for
one person TO lenve or enter at n time
The ceiling was six feet high ana the
floor space was ten feet by six feet
Through the ceiling q siX.inch square
alrshaft was cut We used to take
turns sleeping under this In we
weather.
The tmberN braclng the walls wcrI
driven full " nails 20 hang our equip
ment on After our ammunition, belt
filling machine equipment, rifles. etc.
had been stored away. there was no
much space for ak men to live, no
forgetting the rats.
II was very dark Ia the dugout, nnt
as we were only issued candle and
half every twonty-four hours we hat
to economize on light Woe betide tn
last man who left the candle burning
In this hotel of ours we would 81
around the lonely candle and throug
thick haze Of tobacco smoke woul
recount our different experiences a
various points OF the line where W
had been, or spin yarns about HON,
Sometimes we would write lettel
when we were fortunate enough 10 b
near the candle. At other times we
sit for an hour without saying a wor,
listening to a German over in the er
emy's front trench playing n corne
My. how that Boche could play! Jus
to make Us hate the war he'd play ISL
vance River" "Home. Sweet Home
or "Over the Waves The latter wa
my favorte. During his recital OF
trenches were strangely quiet. New,
shot from either side.
Sometimes, when he had ffnisbe
Ikey Honey would 20 into the trsn,
and play on his harmonica. As sos
rs we'd see that harmonica come o.
II was case Of "duck down low" 4
the Germans would be sure. when Il
first strains reached them. to send ov
'five rounds rapid" We hated th
harmonica. More than once '
ehucked one over the top. but he'd /
down. write letter. and In about Q