The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1919-05-02

Woun1 was serious enough for him -
- sent to England. Tho stretcheg
bearers were being pe=sereA with snee-
tiops as to what chance the TONNES
had Of reaching their coveted goal.
believe they all envied the man under
ether. because. with 4 left foot miss.
ing, he was sure to be sent to H5ghty.
A sergeant major Of the Royal Army
Medical corps entered the ward. The
medical men promptly stood at atten-
ton, except one or two who were
taking care Of serious cases. The SER
geant major ordered:
"Get this ward in shape. The N. o.
is coming through In five minutes to
inspect cases and clear OUT"
The medical men went from cot to
cot, carefully smoothing out blankets,
tucking in loose ends and picking up
flag ends" Cigarette butts).
The sergeant major left.
In about ten minutes the door
opened again and, with smart "shun"
from the sergeant major a dead 81
lence reigned in the ward. The medl-
cal men all came to attention, then
the doctor entered. followed BY =
clerk and r. A. NJ. G. sergeant. He
stopped ut each cot, carefully read
the tag on the wounded man occupy
Ing 1t, passed a few remarks which
the clerk jotted down on pad Of
paper, and as he left each wounded
soldier he made a cheering remark to
him.
When he came to me he asked:
well, how are you feeling, my
ladT' at the same time STOPPING over
my tag.
"Hum-three rifle bullets; well, my
lucky fellow. it means England for
YOU"
could have kissed that doctor.
Then he passed to the IrIshman on
my right. STOPPING over him, he said !:
"How are you. my lad?"
The Irishman~ answered:
'Tm. ID sick and want to get
out Of here: want to get out Of here,
out of this draft. Every tin minutes
they're openin' and a-shuttin' that
door,"
The doctor, with wink, turned to
the r. A. M. 9. sergeant and said !:
"Shrapnel, left foot, knee and right
breast. l see no reasaG why this
man won't be ready for duty in a
couple Of days."
The Irishman. with a yell, an
swered:
"Dooty; how the HI can l do dooty
when l can't walk?"
The doctor answered:
THAT will be all right, my lad.
Well fix you up with a cushy job at
brigade headquarters, pounding a
typewriter"
The Irishman, with a groan Of dis.
gust, addressing nobody in particu.
lar, sighed:
"Out since Mons, and I end up
workin' bloody typewriter at head.
quarters. Stick me in skirts and I'll
go as a manicurist"
The doctor. paying no attention to
this remark. went to the next case
and soon left the ward.
AS soon as the door closed a string
of oaths came from the Irishman:
"P0undin' - typewriter
at headquarters ; just like the bloody
British army; what in hi do know
about one Of those writln' machines?
Just my luck. Why couldn't that
shell have hit me in the hands. But
s'pose If I'd lost my bloody hands
they'd made tight-rope walker out
O. me. Win this war-what hopes p
The Tommies were eagerly Ques-
tioning each other:
"What did he sye to your" "Are
you good for Blighty?" HE marked
England on my tagw "What does
base hospital mean? Does 1t mean
that I'm to stick it out in this bloody
mud while you blokes are a-goin' to
Blighty?" etc.
| Pretty soon a stretcher bearer en-.
tered, carrying a little oblong green
box, which, we all knew, contained
cigarettes. He was greeted with a
chorus of:
"Gimme a flag, mate; I'm all out
Come on, chum, don't forget me
That's a good fellow. Let's have
one"
Pretty soon every Tommy who was
able had lighted flag between his
lips, and sigh of content went up
as he inhaled deep drafts of the
smoke. l certainly enjoyed mine.
The sergeant major again entered
The medical men came to attention
In crisp tones he ordered:
Get the convoy for England ready
Look alive; the ambulances are ex,
pected any minute"
The stretcher bearers entered, bus.
Ting about, and the ward was In an
uproar. Then, outside, could be heard
the chugging engines OF the waiting
ambulances.
AS each fortunate Tommy was car.
ried out the more unfortunate ones
who were to be left behind at the
base hospital, bravely wished him u
Good luck. mate; give my regards
to Trafalgar square. Be careful and
don't lose your watch in Petticoat
lane Give ,ar INV lnvo