Читать книгу The First Hundred Thousand: Being the Unofficial Chronicle of a Unit of "K(1)" - Ian Hay - Страница 3

BOOK ONE BLANK CARTRIDGES I. AB OVO II. THE DAILY GRIND III. GROWING PAINS IV. THE CONVERSION OF PRIVATE M'SLATTERY V. "CRIME" VI. THE LAWS OF THE MEDES AND PERSIANS VII. SHOOTING STRAIGHT VIII. BILLETS IX. MID-CHANNEL X. DEEDS OF DARKNESS XI. OLYMPUS XII. … AND SOME FELL BY THE WAYSIDE XIII. CONCERT PITCH BOOK TWO LIVE ROUNDS XIV. THE BACK OF THE FRONT XV. IN THE TRENCHES—AN OFF-DAY XVI. "DIRTY WORK AT THE CROSS-ROADS TO-NIGHT" XVII. THE NEW WARFARE XVIII. THE FRONT OF THE FRONT XIX. THE TRIVIAL ROUND XX. THE GATHERING OF THE EAGLES XXI. THE BATTLE OF THE SLAG-HEAPS "K(1)"

_We do not deem ourselves A 1,

We have no past: we cut no dash:

Nor hope, when launched against the Hun,

To raise a more than moderate splash.

But yesterday, we said farewell

To plough; to pit; to dock; to mill.

For glory_? Drop it! _Why? Oh, well—

To have a slap at Kaiser Bill.

And now to-day has come along.

With rifle, haversack, and pack,

We're off, a hundred thousand strong.

And—some of us will not come back.

But all we ask, if that befall,

Is this. Within your hearts be writ

This single-line memorial_:—

He did his duty—and his bit!