Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1919-01-10

A0EinEs l1u Dttb III ny tIitt lin
bullets one through the left cheek
the other two through the left shout
der, while engaged In a trench raid
for prisoners, and was on my Journey
70 Bllghty.
/ remember being carried down q
flight Of steps and placed on a white
table In brightly lighted room. a
doctor and sergeant bending over
me-a delicious drink Of ale. then the
whispered word "chloroform;" some
thing like a gas helmet being placed
over my nose and mouth, a couple of
long, indrawn, gasping breaths, q
rumblng 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 kissing
sound In my ears, like escaping steam,
and thcn--blackness.
l opened my eyes. I was lying on
stretcher. covered with blankets, In
a low-roofed. wooden building. Across
the way from me was a long row of
stretchers, each stretcher holding a
wounded Tommy, some lying fiat, 9th
ers 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 ineligible.
My right hand seemed to be In a
wise. l could not release It, Squirm-
ing In bed, which sent sharp. shoot
ing pain through my left shoulder.
tried with my unbandaged eye 70 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
II he were falling asleep; then he
would suddenly start lift up his head
with u Jerk, and stare around the s
room. Pretty soon his eyelids would h
slowly close. gave my arm a tug !,
aud he quickly opened his eyes; then h
across. his face flashed a smile. To &,
me Il appeared like the sun rising from
behind hill at daybreak. That smile
sent n warm glow through me. l be 4,
lieve that right then was In love
with his boyish face. Then he opened
his mouth and. as Is usual in such
cases, spoiled 1t all:.
"Strafe me pink. but you do tylfe ,
your own bloomfn' time to come out I
o. chloroforln. Ere I've been. bloody
well balmy, a 'oldin' your bloomin' ,
pulse" {
Out of the corner of my mouth t
asked him:
where am I7' "
sim smiling, he hailed a stretcher L
bearer across the way. v
II sye 'Awkins, this Brighter wants
4 bloomin' map of Frawnce; % wants d
10 know where e is 4
, Awklns. across the way. answered.: S
TEL i'm 'es bloomin' well In Sam v
Saac's fish 'ouse down Tottenham $
Court Road awaitIn' for is order o.
ish and chips" b
This brought a general laugh from
be Tommies opposite me aud on my Il
light and left.
Somewhat incensed at their merrl-
nent. 1 retorted: o
Quit your kidding; for the love of &
Nike, have some sense. What's the h
natter7 Am l woundedY
The stretcher bearer, still with the 81
sunny smile on his face, which made I
ne feel a little ashamed at my resent 81
nent, answered. K
NAV. you amt wounded. myte. {,
iou just 'appened to fall down In el
he bloomin' road and one o. those Ii
'linkin' tanks crawled over you"
This rather frightened me. and in Il
pleading voice asked: Al
Please tell me; what is the matter in
With me7" n
The stretcher bearer leaned over ri
md read from little tag pinned to
ny tunic: II
&C. S. w. left face-ltwo) left
hoGlder. Cot" 10
Then he carried on:
"H'it means that you ave a rifle st
'ullet through the left side Of -our IN
lock (face) and two bullets through II
our left shoulder and that you're a bs
ot case. which means that you won't ca
ave 10 bloody well walk. Two of us W
'oor blokes win ave to carry you on IN
stretcher. You sure are lucky tn
ioke; pretty cushy. / calls It," pt
l asked him II the wounds were good pr
Or Blighty. ST
He answered; ga
Eyes, you're good for BlIghty, and m
m a-thinkin' that they're good for IL