Starshine Read Free Page B

realised that they were beginning to climb – up a gentle slope, of course, to where the Germans lookeddown on them. As they neared the front line, or what was left of it, they all became aware of sharp flashes that penetrated the darkness ahead sporadically and then the rattle of a machine gun. As if on cue at this, the corporal peeled off to the right and took with him the leading half of the column, who disappeared into the darkness. Sergeant Jones waved his arm and the remainder followed him, walking at a crouch until they were able to slip into a communications half-trench, which zigzagged up the slope and whose walls, about four feet high, offered protection of a sort.
    Three minutes later an officer loomed out of the darkness and held a whispered conversation with the sergeant. Jones turned and waved his men towards him.
    ‘Right,’ he said. ‘We’re whispering because the enemy is only just about one ’undred and twenty yards ahead of us, up by what’s left of them trees up ahead – no, don’t look now, you duffers! You’ll get a bullet in yer ’ead. A couple of corporals will be along in a minute to take you along the line and deposit you in the gaps. I’ll come on afterwards and settle you in and make sure you’re nice an’ comfortable.’
    Then the jocularity died. ‘Listen. You’ll be sprawled up there without much cover, so dig in as much as you can while it’s dark. I’m told that trenches ’ardly exist, so it’s a case of finding what cover you can. Rations are due up soon so you should get something to eat before daylight comes. I know that you’re tired but don’t sleep. DIG !
    ‘The Jerries will almost certainly come at us at daybreak so make sure that your rifles are clean and oiled and fix your bayonets at dawn. You’ll probably need ’em. Ah, the corporals are ’ere. Off you go – and good luck, lads. Now then, where are the Brummie Terriers?’
    Jim and Bertie raised their hands – but only as far as their shoulders.
    ‘Good. You two come with me.’
    They crawled behind the sergeant, for by now the trench had given way to little more than a declivity in the ground and the occasional swathe of the German machine gun was obviously firing on a fixed traverse, aiming to hit anyone who had the temerity to stand in what was left of the British lines.
    And, indeed, it soon became clear that the line hardly existed. Jim and Bertie were deposited into a shell crater, some seven feet deep, occupied by five men, who were sprawled on the German side of the crater fast asleep, their rifles at their side, while a sixth kept watch.
    A trench of sorts had been scraped out from either side of the shell hole and the sound of digging came from it.
    ‘Get in there. You,’ he indicated Jim, ‘go to the right and Paddy to the left and see if you can relieve the diggers. They’ve all been at it for forty-eight hours or more with little rest, so they could do with a spell.’
    ‘Sure, Sergeant,’ said Bertie, ‘but, bless you, we’ve no shovels or spades, see.’
    ‘Use what they’re usin’, which I expect is bayonets and their ’ands. Get on with it and be thankful it’s not rainin’. I’ll be back later with any luck.’
    The two sloughed off their heavy packs and ammunition webbing, drew their bayonets and split up, right and left. Hickman found that his so-called trench was, again, only about three feet deep, but it was wide enough to accommodate his long legs if, when facing the enemy, he knelt. Now, however, he found himself facing the ample bottom of a soldier who was hurling soil over his left shoulder to form a low barrier and so raise the wall on the enemy side of the trench.
    He put his hand on the man’s buttocks and suddenly found a bayonet at his throat.
    ‘For Gawdsakes, son,’ exclaimed the soldier, ‘don’t do that. I thought you was a Jerry.’
    ‘Sorry, mate. I’ve come to relieve you. Is there a spade or something?’
    ‘Blimey, no. This ain’t the Ritz.