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

t lions as TO what chance the TOmmie.
2 had Of reaching their coveted goal.
t believe they all envied the man under
ether because, with a left foot miss
ing, he was sure TO be sent to 8,igbty
! A sergeant major of the Royal Army
J 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:
sect this ward in shape. The NJ. 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 ST.
lence reigned in the ward. The R,edl-
cal men all came to attention, then
the doctor entered, followed by a
clerk and a r. A. M. G. sergeant. He
stopped at 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
lad" at the same time STOPPING over
my tag.
"Hum--three rife 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
SLOW are you, my lad?"
The Irishman answered:
I'm ID sick and l 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 II. A. M. @. sergeant and said
"Shrapnel, left foot, knee and right
breast. 1 see no reaf ~ why this
man won't be ready for duty in a
couple of days"
The Irlshman, with yell, an
swered:
'Dooty; how the hi can do dooty
when 1 can't walkT
The doctor answered:
"That will be all right, my lad.
Wen fix you up with a cushy job at
brigade headquarters, pounding
typewriter"
The Irishman, with groan of dis
gust, addressing nobody In particu-
ar sighed:
"Out since Mons, and 1 end up
vorkin' bloody typewriter at head
quarters. Stick me in skirts and I'll /
70 as manicurist."
The doctor, paying no attention to
his remark, went to the next case
nd soon left the ward. ,
AS soon as the door closed a string /
4 oaths came from the Irishman: .
"Poundin' a :" - typewriter s
t headquarters just like the bloody +
british army; what in hi do 1 know o
bout one of those writip' machines? r
lust my luck. Why couldn't that '
hell have hit me in the hands. But y
s'pose if I'd lost my bloody hands n
ley'd made a tight-rope walker out q
me. Win this war-what .hopes?" b
The Tommies were eagerly ques- =
oning each other:
"What did he sye to your" "Are
ou good for Blightyf" HE marked
ngland on my tag r,'A"What does Il
use hospital mean? Does it mean n
lat Pm to stick it out in this bloody q
I'D while you blokes are a-goin' to c:
lighty?" etc. 81 so m
Pretty soon a stretcher~ bearer en- A
red, carrying a little oblong green y;
TX, which, we all knew, contained =
garettes. He was greeted with
orus of:
"Gimme a flag, mate; I'm all out.
,me on, chum, don't forget me.
iat's good fellow. Let's have
e:"
Pretty soon every Tommy who was
lie had a lighted flag between his
IS; and sigh Of content went up
he inhaled deep drafts of the
Joke. l certainly enjoyed mine.
The sergeant major again entered.
lie medical men came to attention. :;
crisp tones he ordered: IS
get the convoy for England ready. N
ok alive; the ambulances are ex- m
cted any minute" n
The stretcher bearers entered, bus.
ng about, and the ward was In an NJ
roar. Then, outside, could be heard N
> chugging engines of the waiting s.
lbulances. 81
As each fortunate Tommy was car %
d out the more unfortunate ones, n
10 were to be left behind ut the IN
Sc hospital, bravely wished him
God luck, mate; give my regards 81
Trafalgar square. Be careful and
Mt lose your watch in Petticoat
ie- Give 'er my love-" di,
As was carried through the door tri
, cold air sent n SILVER through me wi
\ NV xvonndc boCo- e., ,ofr u,l,n I O.