Chapter Sixteen
We were in a siding waiting for an ammunition train to pass us on its way to the front we were once again being transported in the lice infested wagons of the French railway system. Sat in the open doorway of the wagon we were kicking out feet bored with the incessant delays that we had been subjected to. We started chatting to pass the time and Bert said. “Well Frank how long have you and Ivy been walking out?” Frank looked at him to see if he was taking the piss before he replied. “Only a couple of days really but we spent those days together and never left each others company and that was enough for me to know that she is the girl for me.” He looked to see if anyone was laughing at him but there was only me and Bert listening as he continued saying. “I know that I can speak to you two because you are my best mates and in the same boat as me with your lasses and that.” He looked out into the French night and his eyes took on a long distance look as he went on with his story. “It was the night that we were all together in the Intack after she had come over and sat with us when we were leaving she asked me if I was married?” He smiled at the remembrance of this then said. “Of course I said no then she says well are you walking out with anyone and again I tell her no. So then she says to me neither is she and isn’t it fate and a good thing that we met?” Frank laughed and continued. “I don’t know if it was the same for you two but I had this really strong feeling that she was the right on e for me its hard to explain but I just knew that she was the one for me and that she felt exactly the same about me.” I said. “Well good for you Frank and I hope that you will both be happy together forever.” Bert joined in saying. “I know exactly what you mean it was just the same for me and my Mabel.” He replied. “Thanks lads I knew if anyone would understand it would be you two”, we shrank back into the doorway as the ammo train thundered past. It was then I told him about me and Helen getting engaged he thumped me on the back and said. “Congratulations and well done I’m so happy for the both of you I really am”, and we all sat back with smiles on our faces as we thought about our loved ones.
Eventually we boarded Lorries and were transported close to the front we the disembarked and started our march to ‘Dead Man’s Farm’. We arrived as dawn was beginning to break and the amount of men and supplies that had been stored here and in the surrounding countryside since we left was staggering. Almost every field, wood and broken down village and farm held either supplies or troops. We made for our barn just as the lads were stirring and as we got up to the doors there was a lot of horseplay and questions being shouted. People wanted to know how our leave had gone and more important what home comforts had we brought back with us from ‘Blighty’. George saw us and ran over throwing his arms round us and saying. “How are you fettling lads I can see just how glad you are to be back, have you seen the amount of equipment that’s been stored round here then you will be able to guess the fatigues and working parties that we have been allocated?” Frank replied. “We can guess because we have been passing supply columns all night on there way here so something must be going on.” George looked at us shaking his head as he said. “Haven’t you heard about the offensive that’s being planned it’s supposed to be huge.” We all broke out laughing and George looked at us as though we were deranged then Bert said. “Yes we’ve heard that the ‘Big Push’ is getting pushier and the ‘Offensive’ is getting more offensive”, and again we all broke into laughter. I explained saying. “You know when you were at home and you came back saying that people were talking about a ‘Big Push’ well now everyone and their monkey knows about it. In fact they know more than you me and the General Staff and if you can be bothered to listen they will even tell you the date of the attack.” Just before breakfast I took George to one side and told him about me and Helen getting engaged his face broke into a huge grin and he hugged me to him saying. “It couldn’t have happened to two nicer people you were made for each other and I couldn’t be more chuffed I’m over the moon for the pair of you.” After we had finished breakfast S/Sgt Ted Wallace came up to me and said. “The CSM wants to see you Billy Boy he’s in the out building at the bottom of the yard that is now Company HQ.” I doubled over to the HQ and as I neared the building I saw the CSM sat outside on a chair so I walked up to him and said. “I believe you wanted to see me Sir?” He replied. “Pull up that ammo crate and sit down lad I just want a word with you”, so I pulled the crate over and sat down. He continued. “How was Rosie when you left had there been any change in her condition?” I replied. “Sorry I have to be the one to tell you Sir but Rosie has very little time left she is getting worse by the day”, my head sank down and I looked at the floor. He said. “I’m awfully fond of her and I’m so sorry to hear the bad news but I’ve taken care of her affairs and her last bequests.” I told him. “Yes I know she spoke of it when we talked on my last day she thinks a lot of you and I’m glad that you sorted everything out for her.”
We were both silent for a minute and then he spoke again. “I don’t know if we will be able to get any leave if anything happens until after this offensive that’s being planned. I replied. “She might be alright for awhile Sir or that’s at least what I’m hoping and praying for that she hangs on until we can get back to her.” Once again we lapsed into silence then the CSM said. “How are Helen, Mabel and Beth are they managing to keep their spirits up?” I replied. “They are not bad considering what they have been through but things are hard for them.” He shook his head and said. “Yes of course they will be still we must give them what support we can when we can and just hope for the best.” I asked him. “Is that it Sir I must go and get my kit sorted and make sure I have everything I need.” He replied. “Right lad get off with you, and just remember if you ever need me you know where I am”, we shook hands and I set off for the barn. I turned back and the CSM looked at me asking. “Is there something else I can do for you lad?” I replied saying. “I just wanted to tell you Sir that Helen and I have gotten engaged when I was on leave seeing as you are family.” He said. “Thank you son that is the best news that I’ve heard in a long while I congratulate you both and hope that you will be very happy and thank you for thinking of me as family”, we shook hands again and then I went off to check my kit. Two days later we headed back into the line we started the march after dinner and it was hard going making our way foreword as we moved up a convoy of ambulances went past us and we stood back off the road to let them pass. We could see the white squares with red crosses painted on their canvas sides as the Crossley tenders bumped past us on their rubber tyres. In the fields at the roadside Artillery Batteries were stationed everything from howitzers to feildguns and then of course there was the ever present cavalry detachments. These had taken over most of the woods behind the front line and they had established their horse lines here. There were also supply dumps springing up all over the place packed to bursting with all the things we would need for the forthcoming offensive.
As we marched along we could hear the dull thunder of the guns sounding from the front and then every now and again a bigger thud as the larger calibre guns took over. Then as we got nearer there was chaos in fact it was utter pandemonium with troops standing waiting to be taken forward. The Military Police with their blancoed webbing and clean uniforms and their pistols in holsters attached to their webbing belts were trying to sort out the mess of people. Lorries, wagons and mule trains that were all now entangles as we got closer to the front line. A group of walking wounded passed us and we noticed the fresh blood on their bandages and the fish belly white of their skin. As they passed us on their way to the ambulances they neither saw or recognised us their stares off in the distance in some remembered hell They moved like sleepwalkers and their uniforms were torn and tattered loose puttees flapped threatening to trip their wearers up some of the wounded muttered to themselves as they walked along others were silent lost in a world of pain they took no interest in us only in where they were going. We turned down a sunken road and on into the beginning of a communications trench as we walked along we would sometimes stumble over shoring planks or broken duckboards. Sometimes the trench would be so shallow that you had to bend double to continue along it and in these places you would often see notices warning ‘Beware Sniper’!!! We followed the course of the communications trench which twisted and turned as it followed the landscape along. As we walked though them every so often we would pass under plank bridges that spanned the trench we would also have to turn right angle corners were the blast walls where. These also served to stop the enemy charging along the trench in sufficient numbers to be able to capture it. One man could hold these positions against large numbers of the enemy as they cold only navigate these places one at a time making it impossible for them to have any kind of numerical advantage.
We kept on moving along these narrow trenches which now had sandbags on top of the parapet and we could see that grass had seeded itself between these and was now growing adding a splash of green against the muddy colour of the hessian bags. Running along the wall was D3 field telephone wires that looked like strands of wool twisting and winding themselves together as they disappeared around a bend in the trench. In some places the wire hung down and would catch on our equipment as we passed by and we would wrench ourselves loose sometimes breaking the wire as we did so. A short time later we found ourselves in the reserve trenches and these were heavenly after being I the narrow communication trenches. They were wider for a start and better fortified they had willow branches woven into the trench walls and timber props to shore up the trench walls. Moving along them we saw dugouts with corrugated tin roofs cut into the trench sides and inside some of them we could see furniture that had been liberated from damaged dwellings. Some of these dugouts had humorous signs on them saying no Hawkers or no Gypsies. Or Salesmen Tramps and so on. As we moved along a heavy rain started and this had a depressing effect on us not only were we getting coated in mud now but rain was running down our necks. I could see that some of the lads had a martyr’s expression on their faces others walked along with backs bent like old men and still the rain lashed down. As we arrived at the connecting trenches that would convey us into the front line trenches we had to hug the walls as men who had been relieved stumbled past us in their haste to get to the reserve trenches where they could rest for a while. We seemed to be stuck in the same position for ages and a cold wind blew in gusts round the corner of the trench and it whistled screeching through the gaps in the sandbags on the parapet.
We finally moved into the front line trench taking over from a Battalion of the York & Lancaster Regiment who were a Pals unit like us. As I looked up at the parapet I could see rusty barbed wire strung out across the top and the usual smell of latrines, chloride of lime, sweat and decomposing bodies assaulted our sense of smell. The York & Lanc’s boys were glad to be going back to the reserve trenches and the small amount of comfort they offered. Generally the duration of our stay in the front line was four days with a further four days served in the reserve trenches. This however could vary enormously depending on what units could be used for relief and how the situation at any given time was going sometimes relief units were rushed to other places to hold the line. If this happened it could be a week two weeks or even longer that you would have to spend in the line and this threw all the relief plans out of joint. We settled back into our life in the front line like the veterans we now were as we waited for our watch to start Frank, Bert, George and me sat on the fire step when George suddenly said. “Here have you seen the size of the rats around here they are bigger than bloody house cats”, he threw a stone in the mud and it sank immediately. He continued saying. “I swear one this morning was stalking me and as soon as the chance came, it ran down the trench wall nicked the last bit of bacon off the tip of my bayonet and scarpered with it”. Frank replied. “Your right George they are getting perishing cheeky mind you it’s all the stiffs and empty bully cans and other shit lying around”, and we all nodded our agreement. Bet joined in saying. “The morning hate was a bit rough first thing I heard a couple of lads from Able Company bought it.” George asked. “Did you know them then?” He replied. “No I didn’t recognise the names so I don’t think it’s anyone that we know” and Bert started to scrape the mud off his trousers with his bayonet.
We sat and thought about the lads that had been killed when George said again. “I heard that there were casualties amongst the York & Lanc’s in the reserve trench it was hit by a ‘Flying Pig’ (a trench mortar) nasty bloody things they are.” I was about to agree with him when a voice we knew well shouted. “What the hell are you lot doing maybe you think you’re on holiday or something?” We looked up to see RSM Greaves bearing down on us with the newly promoted Sgt Kenny beside him the RSM turned to him saying. “Find these shirkers something to do Sgt Kenny we cant have them lounging around the trench like a lot of Parisian whores.” We all stood up wondering what torture we would have to endure until our turn for watch came up. Then I heard. “Not you young Lamb you come along with me”, and the RSM turned and walked down the trench so I followed like a lost puppy. I was mortified as I trotted along and the cheeks of my arse were flapping from the farting I was doing because I was shitting myself. As we moved along the trench I said. “Have I done something wrong then Sir?” But no answer came from the RSM he just kept on steaming ahead tramping his way along the duck boards oblivious to everything else. Eventually we came to a small sap where a sniper plate had been erected this was a steel plate with eye holes cut into it and a rifle slot. S/Sgt Aaron Cocker was stood there as we arrived and he greeted me by saying. “Well, well if it isn’t our very own sharpshooter Pte Lamb W, step right up here and be amazed?” The RSM said. “I will leave him in your hands Staff make sure he knows what’s what mind you most of this lot couldn’t find their arses with their own hands”, and after leaving this little pleasantry he waltzed off.
S/Sgt Cocker turned to me saying. “Right lad pin your ears back and listen to what I have to say and it just might save your miserable life”, he smiled at me and stroked his moustache. He continued. “We are a bit short on the marksman front and you being one well we thought what’s the point of you doing fatigew’s when we can use your talent right here.” He tapped the man who was watching through the plate on the back and he stepped down. I now saw that it was Fred Talbot from the 3rd Platoon and he said. “Wotcher Billy Boy how goes it with you then?” I replied. “In the pink as always Fred and so are the rest of the lads thanks for asking, but how about you how did you get put on this thing?” A voice growled. “Shut the fuck up do you think this is a bloody woman’s knitting circle or something?” It was S/Sgt Cocker and he continued saying. “Your supposed to be hard bitten killers who are hunting Hun snipers not ladies taking afternoon tea”, and he looked at us disgustedly. Then he said to me. “Come on now Lamb get up behind the shield and tell me what you see.” I climbed up and looked out scanning the churned up shell cratered ground in front of me I thought to myself that there are hundreds of places that a sniper might conceal himself. I knew it would be difficult but I also knew that once I got into my stride I had no doubt that I could spot him. S/Sgt Cocker moved up beside me saying. “Well have you spotted anyone yet or are too busy playing with your twizell and thinking about the little girl back home to do your job?” I was quite upset by his attitude and snapped. “I have looked over the terrain and it is very good sniping territory and there are hundreds of places where you could go to ground and snipe from”, my voice trailed off. He said to me. “You don’t say, no really get away with you I would never have known how good the ground was if you hadn’t told me”, and his sarcasm bit into me like a rabid dog.
He smoothed his moustache with his finger as he continued saying. “So I take it you didn’t see the chap out by the old artillery limber that’s a shame because you are dead then?” I looked through the eye holes again to where he had said and quartered the ground but I saw nothing. I was just about to turn round and tell him that he needed glasses when the barest movement caught my eye. I looked again and this time I saw him he had covered himself with mud and bits of debris it was a brilliant piece of camouflage and if he hadn’t moved his rifle I would never have spotted him. I turned to S/Sgt Cocker and said. “I have spotted him he’s just beside the broken wheel of the limber I had trouble at first but he moved his rifle slightly and that caught my eye.” He replied. “Yes he did the same with me and that little movement is going to cost him dearly now just you watch how an old hand takes care of Hun bastards like him.” I stood down from behind the sniper plate thinking that he would take up his rifle and deal with the sniper. He said. “Get back up here who told you to step down and leave your post now you just take note of how a master craftsman does things.” Then he shouted to Fred. “Go and tell the ‘Stokes Mortar’ crew to put a couple of rounds onto that old French limber out to our front.” Fred rushed off to tell the mortar crew and I watched through the eye holes of the plate as the ‘Pumpkins’ (trench mortars) dropped onto the limber throwing earth and mud up into the air and no doubt parts of the Hun sniper as well. I could not imagine that there was much of him left after the rounds dropped on him maybe an arm or a few fingers or toes some scattered teeth no not a lot at all. Aaron Cocker said to me. “These German snipers are very good they are specially trained for the job so you don’t take chances with them. If you spot one call down a couple of trench mortar rounds onto him don’t bother about having a duel with him do it my way and you might just survive.”
I once more looked through the shield at the crater that now marked the spot where the sniper had gone to ground and I thought that Aaron was right this was the best way to do it although it rankled with me that I couldn’t take them on just to show I was as good as they were. He continued saying. “The thing is lad if you miss your shot he then has a clear go at you and believe you me he will not miss now with the mortar rounds there is very little chance of missing and even if they do your position is not compromised. If you keep that in mind you wont go far wrong take it from me”, I did because I knew now that I must think of Helen and keep myself as safe as I could. He took Fred off duty shortly after and I was left to watch for snipers or anyone else to kill preferably an Officer. So I spent the rest of the watch at the plate watching but I didn’t see anymore snipers or even anyone to shoot so it was rather boring but that was what it was like most of the time. But I was to spend many hours in the future looking through sniper plates sometimes successfully and sometimes not but always playing the cat and mouse game of hunt the sniper. We moved to the reserve trenches having completed our stint in the line it was alright in these trenches although we could never completely relax it was a lot better than being in the front line. It was March now and it still continued to rain heavily we were sat in a dugout which was reasonably cosy because someone had nicked a brazier from somewhere and we had bunk beds made out of chicken wire and wood it was sheer luxury.
George was complaining as usual he asked. “Has anyone any clean dry socks before I end up with trench foot I’m beginning to resemble a bloody duck here?” Everybody laughed at him as Bert shouted. “Would Sir not like some clean underwear as well or maybe I could take our Sir’s suit for cleaning.” George scowled at this but really he should have had more sense as we were all in the same boat and all in danger of contracting trench foot if not something worse. I must admit though that the sanitation and hygiene facilities in the trenches were practically non existent. It was hard to wash and shave and with the mud it was impossible to keep clean because we were caked stiff in the stuff. That was bad enough but then you had to put up with the lice rats and other vermin that infested the trenches the conditions really were terrible. There was no paper for the latrine so you ended up wiping your ass with either your hand or with grass if there was any. But the best source of toilet paper was the letters from home and many an epistle as long as it was only talking of trivialities had gone south down the hole. This had given the recipient though a luxurious wipe for his ass which also saved a lot of trouble from his piles in the long run. I’m sure that he would thank you from the bottom of his heart or from his bottom itself dear sender but I doubt if you could understand. Five days later we left the reserve trenches and made our way back to ‘Dead Man’s Farm’ where we received more fatigues and working parties. As we trudged along with the rain slanting down everyone noticed that if anything the build up for the new offensive had gotten even bigger with more supplies and men if that was possible. We could see that there was far more troops, guns, cavalry, wagons and Lorries moving up than we had ever seen before. We reached the farmstead and saw that now there were even troops and stores dumps in the fields and orchards of the farm and they stretched right down to the river and on the far side of it was a cavalry troop in lager.
Arriving back at our barn we entered and dropped our kit I sat down and wrote a letter to Helen telling her how much I missed her and how I couldn’t wait to get back to her I noticed that Bert and Frank were doing the same thing and we passed a quite half hour like this. George interrupted us by shouting. “Breakfast’s ready come on or there will be nothing left for us.” After breakfast we were ferried back to the delousing centre and picked up new uniforms which we desperately needed then it was back to the farm for the fatigues and working parties. So we started our lives as slaves chivvied along by the NCOs at every turn and hardly having time to take a breath. A few days later Bert and I were picked for a working party to go up and mend a communications trench that had been blown in by an ‘Oil Can’ (large trench mortar shell). As we stood in line waiting to go a couple of the new replacements had the wind up something fierce they were sweating and trembling. I said. “What’s wrong with you all you have to do is take it easy and everything will be alright there’s nothing to it.” He turned to me stuttering. “It’s alright for you your numbers not thirteen” and I watched as a violent tremor shook his body. I replied. “Is that all that’s wrong I will take your number it doesn’t bother me”, and Bert and I changed places with him and his mate. He turned to us and said. “Thanks a lot mate you don’t know how much it means to me to get rid of that number”, I shrugged as him and his mate grinned form ear to ear. We numbered off and started our journey to the trench we had to mend and when we got there we set to it was hard going but we had now got most of the walls shored back up and the trench cleared so we were not far off finishing. The Sgt who was in charge said. “Numbers ten and eleven come here?” Bert made to move but I restrained him saying. “Its not us Bert remember we changed places with those new lads.” The Sgt turned as the two new lads approached and he said to them. “Right you pair I want you to go to the stores and pick up our rum ration I think we deserve it after putting things to rights here”, and he gave them a chit for the rum. They took the chit and set off laughing and joking on their way to the stores and they had only just got round the blast wall and couldn’t have been far down the next trench when we heard a scream and a roar overhead.
We ducked down as a large explosion and a plume of black smoke rose up into the air and a ‘Jack Johnson’ (trench mortar shell) landed on the part of the trench that they had just reached. We stood up and rushed past the blast wall into the other part of the trench all that was left of the two new lads was a red hot smouldering hole with a few bits of flesh and splashes of blood scattered around. We filled the hole in but as we did Bert and I were in a blue funk shaking and I could have sworn that I had filled my trousers as Bert stuttered. “If we hadn’t changed places that would have been all that was left of us there now.” I replied. “I know but that’s hard luck on them and bloody good luck for us unless you would rather be in their place?” There were not enough of them left to bury so they have no grave we just shovelled the bits of flesh into the hole with the rest of the debris and covered it the blood was washed away by the rain. But they were in good company as there were stiffs from the earlier fighting including some French buried in most of the trench walls and floors. We got back to the barn and everyone agreed that we had received the devils own luck and they congratulated us on our good fortune. Frank put a damper on the whole thing though when he said. “Mind you don’t use up to much of your luck now or you might not get any when you really need it later.” I thought to myself thank you very much ‘Cheerful Charlie’ you would brighten up any party with your hilarious and positive comments.
It was now close to the end of April and we were due to go back into the front line this time for a protracted stay as we moved up I noticed for the first time some old graves off to our left on the corner of a woods. They looked forlorn in the late evening light with the mouldy forage caps hung on the crosses and I wondered how long they had been there and if anyone else had noticed them. We went back to the same trench system and once again moved into the trench system relieving the Battalion that was manning them who made their way into the reserve trenches. Nobby Clarke piped up singing. “Here we all are happy as can be all good friends and jolly good company.” Sgt Kenny yelled at him. “Shut up you fucking idiot where do you think you are on the pier at Blackpool or what?” Things had started to get a bit tense as the build up for the ‘Big Push’ was still going on at quite a pace making tempers a bit frayed. We had been in the line for a couple of days when S/Sgt Ted Wallace came round to get me he said that our new Lieutenant wanted a meeting and so I followed him to the dugout. There was my old friend John Pearson who had come from the 2nd Battalion and was now in charge of our platoon. As I arrived and saluted him he returned it and then said. “Its good to see that you are still alive Pte Lamb, now then we have a bit of a raid planned for tonight but I will let the S/Sgt brief you and I will see you later on”, we saluted and he went off to do whatever he had to. Ted Wallace offered me a woodbine which I lit as I asked. “What’s going on did he just say we had a raid on tonight or was I hearing things?” He replied. “Listen Billy Boy some bum boy on the Staff has come up with the bright idea that they need a sample of the German wire don’t ask me why”, and he spat in disgust. Then he continued saying. “So yours truly and one more silly sod have been volunteered to go out and get some and I thought I’m not going out there without a bloody good shot with me hence why you volunteered.”
I looked at him as if he were mad knowing that he had volunteered me because I certainly hadn’t and I said. “Well thanks’ a lot Ted and I really thought you were a mate just shows you how wrong you can be.” He replied. “I am a mate lad and that’s why your coming along do you really think that I’m going to crawl towards the German wire with no one supporting me there’s not a chance.” He looked at me pointedly and I knew why he had chose me but I was livid with him he then told me that he would come and get me later on and we would go and get the Staff bastards wire for him and get safely back. I left him and went back and told the lads what was going on and they were as disgusted by the whole thing as I was. Gorge asked. “What the bloody hell do they want German wire for is there something special about it?” Frank replied. “Yes there is something different about it I was talking to a bloke from the Engineers who told me it is thicker and has a different make up to ours so obviously someone on the Staff wants to check it out before the offensive starts.” I sighed and said. “Frank’s probably right the Brass just want a sample before the main attack then they and the artillery will know what they are up against. Just as we finished Ted Wallace came up and said. “Are you ready for the off lad we will be starting in a short while when it gets really dark.” The sky was already darkening fast as I replied. “Well we are going but whether I’m ready is another thing but I suppose we better be on our way.” Ted smiled at me as he said. “Look I know how you feel and I wish there was something that we could do but we will just have to grit our teeth and hope for the best.” Frank who had been listening to us joined in saying. “Not necessarily I think I know how you can do this without hardly any danger to yourselves.” Ted Wallace laughed as he said. “Well come on then brainy tell us just how we are going to do this without reaching the front line German wire?” Frank replied. “Listen to what I’m saying out front just off to our right is a big shell hole and beside that is an old abandoned blasted cottage have you seen it?” I said. “Of course we have but what difference does that make everyone knows of it and it’s just a ruin.” Ted Wallace joined in saying. “Billy Boy is right in what he says so come on lets get this thing over with I thought he knew what he was talking about but it is all just wind and piss.”
As we turned to go Frank shouted. “Wait a minute and just hear me out the last time the Huns attacked they used the old cottage as a strongpoint and they fortified it but then they got pushed back to their present positions and guess what’s left around the old place?” Ted smacked his forehead saying. “Your right there is German wire over there I’ve seen it before but how do we know it is the stuff that we are supposed to get this new stuff?” Frank replied. “They attacked about a month ago and that Engineer told me that the Germans have had this new wire about three months and that they only use th