Читать книгу To Fight Alongside Friends: The First World War Diaries of Charlie May - David Crane - Страница 29

It made us quite homesick this morning. The motor-bus was waiting at 9.30 to take us to ‘business’.^xxvii It felt most strange bumping along through the frosty air with all around looking peaceful and comfortable and with nothing at all but joy in the morning and no sign of war at all. But it was cold. We lost all feeling on top of our bus and when at last we were compelled to get down had momentarily lost control of our legs.

They had intended taking us to Varennes but we were stopped three miles short of it because of artillery in action down the road. I think, however, the government were only tired of carrying us for nothing because, though we marched for nine miles after that, we did not see a gun nor hear a shell till we arrived here, Mesnil, about 5.30 p.m.^xxviii B and D Coys only came on to this fair though unpeaceful spot [where they were attached to the 1st Hampshire Regt], A and C, [attached to the 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers] with battalion HQ remaining at Englebelmer,^xxix some three miles behind. Our billet is a château on the skyline. It has been a glorious place but at present looks somewhat shop-soiled since its back has been blown out, its walls and gardens are loopholed and trenched and the flower beds are interspersed with large shell-craters filled with frozen water. The officers’ quarters were once a stable. They are much better than we anticipated and are warm where you miss the draught between the dug-out and the door.

We are quite comfortable and happy and have only had two shrapnel in the garden up to now. But we have, of course, lain doggo as one does after being warned that sight of a man by day or glint of a light by night will bring 9 inch h.e.s [high explosive shells] hurtling in at the back door.

We go into the fire trenches tomorrow and are keen to do so. It is remarkable how everyday and usual it all seems here. I must never breathe a word of it else will not be looked upon as heroes any more by the good people who stay at home and especially by you, my Maudie. Our only trouble are the rats. They swarm and are bold beyond description. They run over you, pinch candles, eat our iron rations and disturb one’s attempts at slumber. It is, you will say, but a minor trouble yet it is our greatest up to now.

We are all jolly tired tonight though and I’ll bet when we do get down it will take more than rats to disturb us.