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Show Private "Ginger" As Seen Through the Barbed Wire TT T H Sergeant Arthur Guy H Empey H Author of "Over the Top," "First Call," Etc. O-O-O Mr. Empey's Experi-encesDuringHisScven-teen Months in theFirst Line Trenches of the British Army in France iiiH lOoprttabmtlT.brTHaMrClnraNgHipatKr H There were six of us. "Curly" Wnllaco wns cnllcd "Curly" H because he had tlio cutest llttlo Delia H Fox, or spit curl, ns tho Rum-chcwors H mil It, you over snw. Wallaqo ;was H proud of that cur), and gayo It. tho H best of attention and care. Ho was H 'Happy" Houghton earned his nick H nn'ma by hla constant smllo and happy H disposition. Ho was English, a Lou H "Hungry" Foxcroft really earned Ills H title. Ho took spcclnl pains that our H rations would not becomo mildewed by H lying nrouivl too long In tho dampness H of our dugout. Ho was English ; also H from London. "Ikcy" ITnnncy, dubbpd."Ikcy" bo B cause In ono of our theatrical nt HBhB tempts ho took tho part of "Ilcuy Co H -hcnstcln," nnd mado q'ultq n hit. Eog H llsh, vln London. "Dick" Turpln, cnllcd "Dick" In H memory of tho notorious Jilghwnymnn. H IIo used to help the (pinrtcrmastcr ser- H gcant, so the nnmo wns very npproprl- nte. He was Irish, from Dublin. B I was jtlio sixth. Tho boys put tho B prefix "Vnnk" to my name, hecnuso I HBVJ was American nnd balled from tho "Big Town" behind tho stntuo of lib-H lib-H crty. Tho six of ns composed tho crow of gun No. 11 nf tho th brlgndo ma chlno company. Wo wcro nmiiilno H gunners and our gun was tho Vlckcrs, light, n03, water-cooled. It wns n rainy afternoon In June, and wo wcra sitting In our dugout In B tho front-lino trench, about 300 yards HBVJ from tho German lines. If you should nsk n Tommy Atkins B "What Is n dugout?" ho would look nt yon In astonishment, and, pitying you H for your apparent lack ot education, would answer, "What's a dugout? Why n dugout Is a well, a dugout's a Hf dugout." Only being a Tommy pro T tern pro tern In my caso mennlng "for H duration of war" I will try to do- scribe to tho best of my ability this fl particular dugout. A dugout In n holo In tho ground. acts Its nnmo becauso It Is dug out H by tho. Itnyal Engineers, or It. E.'s. ns J wo call them. It In ped to shelter tho fl men In tho trenches from shell fire, They also sleep in Ir, or try to. From 1 our point of view, Its main uso Js to J drain tho trenches of muddy water H and glvo us rheumatism. Jt also B makes a good hotel for rats. Thcso guests look upon us ns Intruders and complain that wo overcrowd tho place. Occasionally wa giva In to them, nnd tnko n turn In tho tiench to rest our Our dugout wns nbout twenty feet P deep, or, nt least, tiicro wcro twenty wooden steps lending down to it. Tho B celling nnd walls wcro braced by heavy, square-cut .timbers. Over tho timbers In tho celling sheets of coo " rugatcd Iron wcro spread to keep tho wet earth from falling In on us. Tho eiitronco was heavily sandbagged nnd B very narrow; there wns only room for one person .to leave or enter nt n tlino. Tho celling was six fcot high and tho H. floor spuco wan ten feet by six feet. Through tho colling it six-Inch square lrn!iafti was cut. Wo used to tako tunis sleoplng, under this In wqt TIiq timbers, .bracing (lip .walls wcro driven full of calls to hang our equip mcnt on. After our ammunition, belt filling machine, equipment, rides, etc., bad been stored away, thcro was not much ppnee for six men to llvo, not H., forgetting tho rats. I It was very dark In the dugout, nnd as wo wcro only; Issued n cnmllo and n fcnlf every twenty-four hours wo had 1 to cconomlzo on light. Woo betide tho hist mau who left tho candlo burning! In this hotel of ours wa would sit around tho lonely candlo nnd through thick hazo oC tobacco smoko would recount our different experiences at various points of tho lino whero wo . bud been, or spin yarns about home. J Sometimes wo would write, n letter, ( when wo woro fortimnto enough to bo sear tho candle.' At other times wo'd i alt for an hour without saying a word, Hstcnlng to n German over In tho en rmy's front trench playing a cornet. My, how that Bocho could play I Just to make us hnto tho wnr he'd play "Su-t "Su-t irnnoo Jtlyer," "Ilome, Sweet Florae," r "Over tlio Waves.'' Tho latter wns ! my, favorite. During Ids rfccltol our J trenches vrtto strangely quiet. Never f a sliot from either a;. t Sometimes, when he hnd finished, H Ikey Uounoy would go Into the, troncb B and play on his harmonica. As toon B as we'd sec thnt harmonica como out HKVn; t wns n ease of "duck, down low," for Ht Hie Ocminns would tus sure, when the B first strains reached thcro, to send over BSJ ' "five rounds rapid." Wo hated that pKVJI' hunuonlca. Mpro than once wo (iud;iHl one over the top, but ho'jl sit KVB Aown, wrltfi a letter, and In about ten days' tlmo wonld rccclvo, through tho mall a llttlo oblong pnekngo, and Wo'd know wo wcro In for soma raoro "flvp round rapids." Wo didn't blnmo tho Qcrmans. SUM, that harmonica had -Its uses. Often wo would get downhearted and "fed up" with tho wnr, and "grouse" nt everything In general. Then Ikcy would reach In his pocket nnd out would coma thnt Instrument of torture. tor-ture. Wo would then rcnlizo thcro ' were worso things thnn war, and cheer up accordingly. On this particular rainy nftcrnoon In Juno wo woro In a talkatlvo mood. Perhaps It wns duo to the fact that Curly Wallaco hnd mado his "Tom mlo's cooker" do wimt It was supposed to do mnko water boll In an hour nnd a half. A "Tommlo's cooker" Is n spirit stovo which Is very widely nd vcrttsed as a sultablo gift to tho men In tho trenches. Many wcro. sent out, nnd many wero thrown nwny. Anyway, tho "cooker" lived up to its rcputntton for once, ihough a llttlo bo-hind bo-hind Us advertised Echcdulo in making mak-ing wntcr boll. Curly passed around tho result of his efforts, In tho form of nn nmmunlUon tin )ml(,full of fairly fair-ly good tea. Wo each took n good swig, lighted n cigarette they had "como up" with tho rrfflons tho night before nnd settled Jmck against tho damp .earthen walls 'of .the dugout, to sco who could tell tho biggest llo. For n few minutes aljchc'o reigned no ono seemed to enro lo bo tho first to break In. Then Dick Turpti, turning to mo, net ml "Itemcmbcr Burton of A company? Think ho wns In tho Third plntoon; tho fellow thnt wns recommended for tho V. O. nnd refused It, Cot tho recommendation rec-ommendation for rescuing his platoon commander under fire." I answered in tho nfilrmatlvo and Dick "carried on" with: "I never could sco Into thnt affair, becauso they sccme,d to ho the; worst of enemies. TJio officer wns nlwnys picking on him ; ilsod n hnvo htm 'on tho crlmo sheet' for Iho least offense. Oot him sever-nl sever-nl days of extra paek drill, and onco ho clicked twenty-ono dnys' crucifixion' (field punishment No. 1, tied to u limber wheel two hours per day for twenty-one days). "No matter what dirty fatlguo or working party camo along, Burton's nnmo wns euro to head the list. '"This Burton nppenred to bo a surly sort of n chnp, kept to himself a whola lot, always brooding, didn't have mnny friends In tho company, cither. Thcro seemed to bo something on his mind. "Most of the company., men snld his sweetheart back In Blighty had thrown him down for some other bloke." Happy Houghton hutted In: "Thnt's tho way with this world, always ham mcrlng nt n fellow. Well, I know this Burton, nnd there's not a better mnto In tho world,' so let Uiat sink Into your nnppers.' . x "Don't get sore, nappy," said non ncy. "If you don't mind, let's havo tho ntory, I meant no offense. Just naturally nat-urally curious, that's nil. You can't deny that tho whole nffnlr has been qulto n mystery to tho brigade. Spit It out. and get It off your chest." "Let's hnvo Itt Happy," wo nil chimed In chorus. J Happy, somewhat mollified, lighted n cigarette, took two or thrco puffs, and started: "Well, It was this way, but don't nsk any questions until I am through. "You know Burton Isn't what you'd call n prlzo beauty when It comes to looks. He's nbout five, six In height, "Damn You, I Was Going to 'Kill You; But I Won't." stocky, n trifle bowlegged and pug-nosed, pug-nosed, To top this ho has a crop of red hair and his clock (face) Is tho boarding house for every frecklo In tho United Kingdom; But' strong I Say, thnt fellow could mako Samson look llko a consumptive when ho got started. , "In Blighty, before tho wnr, Burton nnd (his lieutenant his name is Hustonwent Hus-tonwent to tho eamo college. "nuston wns nearly six feet high anil slender. Sort of n dandy, fnlr-halred, fnlr-halred, lots of dough, which ho never got by working; his papa wished It on, him when ho went west (died), no was good-looking nnd had a way with tho girls which mado them think ho wub the ono nnd only. Didn't euro much for athletics. Girls, dances nnd card parties wero 'more In his lino. "They wcro In tho snmc class. Burton Bur-ton wns working his way through, nnd consequently Huston looked down on htm ns n bally bounder'. Among tho athlete's Burton was popular, Huston wasn't. "Burton was engagedor thought ho Wus to n pretty .fine girl by tho pamo of Betty. Sho thought Burton, or 'Gluger,' as she called' him, was tho finest thing out. Ono day Ginger took her to sco a footbnll gamo nt tho college col-lege ; ho was playing on tho team, so sho hnd to sit It out alone. During this sitting it out,' sho met Huston nnd tho troubla started, no was dead gono on her nnd sho liked him, so ho mado hay whllo tho sun was shining. "Sho didn't exactly turn Ginger down, but ho was no boob nnd saw how things were, so ho eased out of, tho running, although It nlmost broko his heart; ho certainly loved that girl. "This stnto of affairs widened th gap between IlMston nnd Burton. They tinted ench qthor pretty fiercely, hut Burton never went out of his way to show It, while nuston took ovcry opportunity op-portunity to vent his Bplccn. Ginger snw Betty very seldom, nnd when he did, sho was generally accompanied by Huston. "Then tho wnr camo; Ginger Immediately Imme-diately enlisted ns n private. Ho could havo had a commission, but did not wont to tnko a chanco of having to mix with Huston. "A few weeks nftcr Ginger's inllst mcnt, Huston Joined too wns losing prcstlgo in Betty's eyes by staying In" mufti. Ho went Into tho O. T. O. (officers' (of-ficers' training corps), In seven months ho received his commission nnd wns drafted to Franco. Ginger had been out thrco months. "Bcforo leaving, Huston proposed to Betty nnd was ncccptn0. By ono of tho many ntrango coincidences that" happen In this world Huston was sent to tho battalion and company that Ginger Gin-ger was In nnd was put In command of Ginger's platoon. Then things happened. "Ginger could hardly bcllovo his eyes when ho first saw Huston nnd knew ho wns to bo his platoon commander. Ho know ho was Jn for It good nnd plenty. '.'That night nuston sent for Ginger nnd hnd n talk with him. Tried to mnko him bcllovo thnt ha harbored no animosity, ani-mosity, detailed him as mall orderly, tho first net of n cntnpnlgn of petty cruelty. By being mull orderly Ginger wpuld havo to handlo Betty's letters to Huston nnd Huston's letters to her. Ginger tmw through It Immediately nnd his hnto burned stronger. From-thnt From-thnt night on It was ono Indignity nftcr nft-cr another, just a merciless persecution, persecu-tion, but Ginger novcr complained; Just stored up each new act and sworo vengeance. "It enmo to euch n rjnss that Ginger Gin-ger could bear It no longer; ho decided to kill Huston and only waited for n favorable opportunity to prcsont Itself., I think It wns only his lovo for Betty which had held him back so long; ha couldn't bear tho thought of her grieving griev-ing for her dead lover. "Ono night, In tho front-lino trench, orders wero received that after an hour's intenso bombardment of tho enemy's en-emy's lines tho company would go over! tho top.nt four-thirty tho next moridngU Huston was to go over with tho first wavo, whllo Ginger was In tho socond. Hero was his chanco. "All that night ho crouched on tho flro stop, musing and brooding, nursing his revenge. Ho prayed to Betty to forglvo him for what ho was going to do. "After tho bombardment tho next morning over went the first wave, n lino "of bayonets nnd madly rhecrlng men. uinger only snw ono In that crowd ; his eyes nover left Huston. His finger twitched nnd enressed tho trigger trig-ger of his rifle his long-Iookcd-for opportunity op-portunity had como. "Tho first wavo had gono nbout sixty six-ty yards when Ginger let out n curse. Huston hud been lilt and was down, nnd ho snw his rovengo slipping through his fingers. But no, Huston wns not dead ; ho was trying to rlso to his feet; ho was up, hopping on ono leg, with tho blood pouring from tho other. Then ho fell ngaln, but wns soon sitting up" bandaging his wounded )cg, using u tourniquet from his first-aid first-aid packet "A surgo of unholy Joy ran through Ginger. Lifting tho safety latch on his rfle, unheeding tho rain of bullets which wcro ripping nnd tearing tho sand-bagged parapet about him, ho took dcllbcrato aim at Huston. Then ho snw n vision of Betty, dressed In black, with tcar-stalncd eyes. With a muttered curso Gluger threw tho rlfio from him, climbed over tho parapet and raced across Nj) Man's land. No act of his should bring tears to Betty's brown eyes. Ho would savo her worthless worth-less lover and then got killed himself It didn't matter. "Beaching nuston ho hissed at him: 'Damn you, I was going to kill you, but I won't. I'll carry you buck to Betty. But always remember It wns tho man you robbed who saved your "worthiest life, you desplcablo skunk I' "Huston murmured; 'Forglvo mo, Burton, but for God's sako get mo out of this. I'll bo killed for God's sake, man, hurry, hurry 1' " -That's It, Is It? Whine, damn you, whlnol It's music to my cars, Lieu tcnunt nuston begging n "bally bounder" bound-er" for his life, nnd tho bounder giving It to him. I would to God that Betty could seo and hear you now.' "With that Ginger stooped nnd, by main strength, lifted Hustrfn onto his 'back and staggered toward our lines. Tho. bullets and pieces of shrapnel wcro cracking and 'swishing' all around. IIo had gone about fifty yards when n piece of shell hit bis loft arm Just below tho shoulder. Down, he went, nuston with him, but was soon up, hlsjcft arm dangling and swinging nt his side, Turning to Huston, who was lying On his back, he said: 'I'm hard hit it's your llfo or mine. Wo'ro only ten yards from our trench ; try to make It on your own. You ought to bq ablo to crawl In.' "But Huston answered: 'Burton, don't icavo me I am bleeding to death. .For tho lovo of God gel mo In I You can hav Betty, money, anything 1 havo, It Is nil yours Just savo my life. Answer mo, man. answer" '"You want my answer, do you? Well, tako It and damn' you I' With that Ginger slapped tho officer In tho faco; then, grabbing him by tho collar with his right arm, tho blood soaking his tunic from tha'shcll wound In his left, Ginger slowly dragged Huston to tho trench end fainted. A mighty cheer went up from our lines. Stretch cr benrers took them both to" an ad vanccd first-aid post, and their Journey to Blighty nnd Betty wns stnrtcd. On tho trip over Ginger never regained re-gained consciousness. They landed In a hospital In England nnd wcro -put In beds next to ench other. Ginger wns taken up Into tho 'pictures' (bper-, ntlng theater), wherq his arm was amputated am-putated nt tho shoulder. Huston's wound was slight; bullet through tho calf of leg, "Whllo Ginger was coming out of ether ho told all ho know. A Bed A Red-Cross Nurse With Tear-Dimmed Eyes Was Holding Hla Hand. Cross nurse, with tcnr-dlmmcd oyes, wns holding his hand. Occasionally sho would look across at nuston in tho next bed; ho' would slowly nod his head nt ench questioning glnnco of hers, whllo tho red blood ot shamo mounted to his temples. 'Then Ginger camo to. IIo snw a beautiful vision. - Thought ho wns dreaming. Sitting by his bed, dressed In n Bed Cross nurse's uniform, wns Botty, Huston's Betty, holding his hand. Betty, with tears In her oyes, but this tlmo tears of Joy. Tho sweat ,camo out on his forehead It couldn't bo truo. Ho gmipcd out the ono -word, Betty I' i "Stooping over, tho vision kissed him Vn, tho Hps and murmured, 'My Ginger, you hnvo como back to Betty.' "Then ho slept. Next morning tho colonol of the hospital camo to Ginger's bcdsldo nnd congratulated him, telling htm thnt bo had been recommended for tho V. a Ginger refused tho V. 0. from tho government ; said ho had not earned It, wonld not glvo tho reasons but persisted In his refusal. They can't forco you to tako a V. O. "Flvo months later Ginger and Betty Bet-ty wcro married. Sho cuts his meat for him now; says that all bis faults were contained In his left arm. no lost that. So, you sco, Ginger was somewhat of a man, after nil, wasn't ho, mates?" Wo agreed that ho was. I asked Happy how ho camo to know thcso do tails. Ho answered: "Well, Yank, Betty happens to bo my sister. Glmmo n fog, somo ono. I am nbout talked out. aud, anyway, wo'vo only got a fow minutes before 'stand to.' Just then tho volco of our sergeant sounded from the mouth of tho dugout: dug-out: "Equipment on I Stand tot" So It' was a caso of turn out and mount our gun on tho parapet. It was Just getting dark. Wo would dismount It-nt "Stand down" in tho morning. Tommy Is llko nn owl, sleeps In tho day and watches at night. It was a miserable night, rainy and chilly. The mud In tho trenches In some places was up to our knees. Wo knew wo were In for It and wished wo wcro back In Blighty, whero ono can at least change his clothes when thoy get wet, Instead of waiting for a sunny day to, dry them. At times we havo been wet for a fortnight |