LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 16810, 7 August 1920, Page 12

LEGION OF FRONTIERSMEN.

(By “Bushman.”)

“THE M.M, THAT WENT WEST.” (By T. Merlin Winiki.) The following story is continued from last week:— “I was just going to tell you,” resumed the lied Diamond, “about a little affair which took place toward the end of August, 1918, somewhere near Bancouz-t. We had just re-taken liapaumc, and, at the time I’m speaking of, Fritzie was cleverly and regularly retiring about five miles'a clay according to plan. W’e were fancying we were in for a few days’ spell, and were nicely dug in along a sunken road, all of us thinking wo were “set” for a day or two. About two o’clock ack-emma we were aroused by the. man on gas guard, and we found out that everyone had to prepare to mbve off i in half an hour’s time. At that hour we were all, of course* very drowsy, and so you can imagine it was not very welcome news. Before we moved off we were instructed in the plan of action for daybreak, and our officer, with the aid of his electric torch and the map, carefully explained to the section leaders' the terrain ahead of the proposed movement. Presently we all moved out in single file onto the road, and from there wo went on through to our front line trench. We rested there a while, and wore served with tho ovez-welcome rum ration. Just as dawn was breaking we went “over the top” and then, the “fireworks” started. We advanced in extended formation, our own brigaded machine guns throwing a fierce curtain of fire ahead of us, while Fritz was dropping a terrific artillery barrage behind ns—and occasionally amongst us. The thick smoke of Fritzio’s barrage, and the intense smell of the prosphorua fumes gave one a hellish thirst, but we wont on for about a 'mile like this. We eventually got into a little hollow', where we encountered a heavy machine gun barrage, which Fritzie was commencing to send over. Luckily, however, the storms of bullets were going over our heads because the contour or the slope ahead of us was preventing Fritzie. from depressing his machine guns sufficiently to mow' us down. Here we waited fin hour or so, and promptly f'dug in” ; we .were obliged to wait because we were getting ahead of cur flank troops, who wore being held up by Fritzie’s very earnest machine gnu “strafe.” Our period of waiting was none too pleasant, because, we now come under the close observation of some enemy aeroplanes. These flew very low, and busily worked thejr machine guns on ns, but without doing o’, ermuch , damage. Eventually’ some big British tanks came to tbe aid of our flank troops, and cleared tbe way for them. Wo were now ordered to n ovo on. so we opened out again and advanced up tho slope in front' of us in co-operation with the flank troops. As we went further up the slope we came into the deadly zone of Fritzie's machine gun fire, and men fell thick and fast. The platoon was thinning out under that merciless “Flack-ack-ack-ack,” and only a mere handful of us was loft. Wo were nearing the top of'the slope, and on tho level ground beyond wo could see the enemy’s trench line 100 yards or so distant. Our officer ordered us to rush the position, so we advanced at the double, the nine or 10 survivors of our platoon. “I can well remember that last rush; we were running steadily along in,extended formation; suddenly our last sergeant crumpled up and fell, then the man next him, then another. There were only six or seven of us left, and wo were doubling along, a scattered line but : more or less abreast. “I .thought a lot of swift thoughts in the course of that run; I thought again and again that here, perhaps, was the dreamed-of opportunity "of gaining a coveted distinction: I thought that, it now one sprinted out ahead of tho others, and ran in ahead of that thin lino only a few yards or so, perhaps, surely it would moan a D.C.M., or at least a M.M.!!. Yet every time that thought recurred, another came like an ioo-cold douche—tho thought of one’s own hide. I thought as I looked at my few remaining cobbers, all doubling steadily in line, none- knowing—none caring—which would bo the next to fall. I thought ‘No! By cripes, I won’t sprint ahead of my mates! There’s l enough lead flying my way already without my inviting an increased issue!!’” (To Bo Continued.)