and we have only been over here for five minutes.”
It was still dark when we broke camp. To be fair to Squadron Sergeant Ritchie, he timed it perfectly. The sun was peering over the horizon as the last tent was put into the wagon and the colonel waved our troop forward. It seems that our zealous Lieutenant Ramsden had persuaded the colonel to let us scout again. In light of the previous day the sergeant and I thought it was a mistake.
“Corporal Harsker, you did such a fine job yesterday that your section can lead again. I know you won’t let me down.”
I bit back any retort I might have made. My back was just irritated but it was a reminder of how close death had come. I would be careful but it was not him I was worried about letting down, it was my men. As we trotted down the road I briefed my three companions. “We know a bit more about the Germans now lads. Watch out for ambushes in the trees and keep your rifles ready.”
We were all good enough riders to cope with a heavy Lee Enfield in our right hands. It was reassuring. I had been pleased with its performance against the Germans but I knew that we might not be lucky enough to meet lancers again. Our opponents might have rifles too.
The nature of the lands and the road which had appealed so much when we first rode down them now worked against us. The land was flat and you could only see as far as the next bend. I rode at the front next to Robbie. The Brown boys peered towards the sides of the tree line d roads. We could hear, as we rode along, the crackle of small arms fire. Occasionally there was the unmistakeable stutter of a heavy machine gun. What was missing, thankfully, was the crump of artillery.
This time we were seen before we saw them. There was a crack of rifle fire ahead. Whoever had fired had done so too early and the bullet whizzed harmlessly over our heads. It warned us of the presence of the enemy. We raised our rifles and fired a short burst in the direction of the trees.
“Back to the patrol!”
This time the lieutenant was keeping the patrol closer to us. They heard the firing and met us just two hundred yards from the ambush. Sergeant Armstrong reacted first, “Trooper Smith, ride back to the column and say we have encountered the enemy.”
As the trooper rode off the officer gave him an irritated look, “Thank you sergeant but perhaps, next time you might wait…”
“Sir, with respect we have an enemy to shift.” He turned in the saddle, “Troop, dismount. Skirmish order!”
The lieutenant had a temporary batman in the shape of Trooper Teer. He also took the sergeant’s horse.
As Robbie led our horses away I took the Brown boys back down the lane. We kept low as we ran. When we reached the place they had fired on us I waved the lads down and we peered through the bushes. I could see dark shapes in the woods ahead. “Pick your targets boys; we need to know numbers.”
I aimed at a grey black shape and squeezed the trigger. I was rewarded with a yell and a fusillade of fire. As we were lying down and they were aiming for kneeling men the shots whizzed harmlessly overhead. Soon the three of us were firing almost as rapidly as we could work our bolts. The Germans were standing and it made them easier targets, even though they thought they were hidden in the woods.
Sergeant Armstrong and the lieutenant appeared behind me. As bullets hurtled towards us I shouted, “Get down! Sir!”
Sergeant Armstrong threw himself to the road. Lieutenant Ramsden looked as though it was beneath him. The sergeant said, “Sir, you’ll get your head blown off this way.”
“Thank you, sergeant.” He complied with my shout albeit reluctantly.
Sergeant Armstrong said, “ Corporal Harsker, can you and your lads work your way down the road and try to flank them?”
“If you can give us covering fire.”
He shouted to the nearest troopers, “Crawl here and give rapid fire at those trees!” He
It was still dark when we broke camp. To be fair to Squadron Sergeant Ritchie, he timed it perfectly. The sun was peering over the horizon as the last tent was put into the wagon and the colonel waved our troop forward. It seems that our zealous Lieutenant Ramsden had persuaded the colonel to let us scout again. In light of the previous day the sergeant and I thought it was a mistake.
“Corporal Harsker, you did such a fine job yesterday that your section can lead again. I know you won’t let me down.”
I bit back any retort I might have made. My back was just irritated but it was a reminder of how close death had come. I would be careful but it was not him I was worried about letting down, it was my men. As we trotted down the road I briefed my three companions. “We know a bit more about the Germans now lads. Watch out for ambushes in the trees and keep your rifles ready.”
We were all good enough riders to cope with a heavy Lee Enfield in our right hands. It was reassuring. I had been pleased with its performance against the Germans but I knew that we might not be lucky enough to meet lancers again. Our opponents might have rifles too.
The nature of the lands and the road which had appealed so much when we first rode down them now worked against us. The land was flat and you could only see as far as the next bend. I rode at the front next to Robbie. The Brown boys peered towards the sides of the tree line d roads. We could hear, as we rode along, the crackle of small arms fire. Occasionally there was the unmistakeable stutter of a heavy machine gun. What was missing, thankfully, was the crump of artillery.
This time we were seen before we saw them. There was a crack of rifle fire ahead. Whoever had fired had done so too early and the bullet whizzed harmlessly over our heads. It warned us of the presence of the enemy. We raised our rifles and fired a short burst in the direction of the trees.
“Back to the patrol!”
This time the lieutenant was keeping the patrol closer to us. They heard the firing and met us just two hundred yards from the ambush. Sergeant Armstrong reacted first, “Trooper Smith, ride back to the column and say we have encountered the enemy.”
As the trooper rode off the officer gave him an irritated look, “Thank you sergeant but perhaps, next time you might wait…”
“Sir, with respect we have an enemy to shift.” He turned in the saddle, “Troop, dismount. Skirmish order!”
The lieutenant had a temporary batman in the shape of Trooper Teer. He also took the sergeant’s horse.
As Robbie led our horses away I took the Brown boys back down the lane. We kept low as we ran. When we reached the place they had fired on us I waved the lads down and we peered through the bushes. I could see dark shapes in the woods ahead. “Pick your targets boys; we need to know numbers.”
I aimed at a grey black shape and squeezed the trigger. I was rewarded with a yell and a fusillade of fire. As we were lying down and they were aiming for kneeling men the shots whizzed harmlessly overhead. Soon the three of us were firing almost as rapidly as we could work our bolts. The Germans were standing and it made them easier targets, even though they thought they were hidden in the woods.
Sergeant Armstrong and the lieutenant appeared behind me. As bullets hurtled towards us I shouted, “Get down! Sir!”
Sergeant Armstrong threw himself to the road. Lieutenant Ramsden looked as though it was beneath him. The sergeant said, “Sir, you’ll get your head blown off this way.”
“Thank you, sergeant.” He complied with my shout albeit reluctantly.
Sergeant Armstrong said, “ Corporal Harsker, can you and your lads work your way down the road and try to flank them?”
“If you can give us covering fire.”
He shouted to the nearest troopers, “Crawl here and give rapid fire at those trees!” He
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