The spectator., 1919-04-11

Copyright ''' eG s,1s;s..sS rss ssSlu'' Newspaper
 The battle of the Somme was still raging I had been hit by three rife bullets, one through the left cheek, the other two through the left shoul- der, while engaged in a trench raid for prisoners, and was on my journey to Blighty.
 I remember being carried down a flight of steps and placed on white table in a brightly lighted room, a doctor and a sergeant bending over me-a delicious drink of ale, then the whispered word "chloroform; some thing like gas helmet being placed over my nose and mouth. couple of long, indrawn, gasping breaths, a rumbling in my ears; then the skyline of New York suddenly appeared. This was quickly followed by the Statue of Liberty shaking hands with the Singer building; a rushing, missing sound in my ears. like escaping steam. and then-blackness.
 opened my eyes. I was lying on stretcher, covered with blankets, in a low-roofed, wooden building. Across the way from me was long row Of stretchers, each stretcher holding a CTS propped up by folded blankets. Others were sitting on their stretchers tenderly caressing an arm bound up with white bandages.
 Occasionally a stretcher, reclining on which was a muddy and bloody soldier, would be carried down the aisle by two stretcher bearers. This stretcher would be placed in an open space in the row opposite.
 could hear a hum of conversation all about me, and as my brain cleared snatches of it became intelligible.
 My right hand seemed to be in a wise. I could not release it. Squirm- ing in bed, which sent sharp, shoot ing pain through my left shoulder, l tried with my unbandaged eye to see what was holding my wrist.
 A Royal Army Medical corps man was sitting on the floor at the head of my stretcher, and had my wrist in his grasp. He was about twenty years old, and looked dog-tired; his chin would gradually sink to his chest. as if he were falling asleep; then he would suddenly start, lift up his head with jerk, and stare around the room. Pretty soon his eyelids would slowly close. gave my arm a tug and he quickly opened his eyes; then across his face flashed smile. To me it appeared like the sun rising from behind hill at daybreak. That smile sent warm glow through me. l be- lieve that right then I was in love with his boyish face. Then he opened his mouth and, as is usual in such cases, spoiled it all:
 "Strafe me pink, but you do tyke your own bloomin' time to come out O chloroform. Ere I've been, bloody we'll balmy, a 'oldin' your bloomin' pulse."
 Out of the corner of my mouth I asked him:
 "Where am IT.
 Still smiling, he hailed a Stretcher bearer across the way.
 "I sye, 'Awkins. this blighter wants bloomin' map of Frawnce; e wants to know where e is."
 'Awkins, across the way, answered {:
 'Tell i'm 'e's bloomin' we'll in Sam Isaac's fish 'ouse down Tottenham Court Road, awaitin' for Is order O fish and chips"
 This brought a general laugh from the Tommies opposite me and on my right and left.
 Somewhat incensed at their merri- ment, I retorted:
 "Quit your kidding; for the love of Mike, have some sense. What's the matter7 Am l w0undedT
 The stretcher bearer, still with the sunny smile on his face, which made me feel little ashamed at my resent ment, answered.:
 Nav. you ain't wounded. myte. You just 'appened to fall down in the bloomin' road and one O those blinkin' tanks crawled over you." This rather frightened me. and in pleading voice asked:
 Please tell me; what is the matter with mel"
 The stretcher bearer leaned over and read from a little tag pinned to my tunic:
 "G. s. w. left face-(two) left shoulder. Cot"
 Then he carried on: "Hit means that you ave a rifle bullet through the left side of your , clock (face) and two bullets through , your left shoulder. and that you're a cot case. which means that you won't . lave to bloody well walk. Two of us poor blokes will lave to carry you on a stretcher. You sure are lucky bloke; pretty cushy, calls 1t" asked him if the wounds were good for Blighty.
 He answered.: