Read Online 1914 (British Ace) by Griff Hosker - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Griff Hosker
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raised his gun and emptied the magazine.
I said to the Brown boys, “Put a fresh magazine in. Then when I shout, run like buggery up the lane. Watch me, when I drop, you drop.”
I waited until I heard the rest of the troop open fire and then I shouted, “Run!” I ran as fast as I could. I heard the bullets but they were behind me. There was one cry of pain but I could not afford the time to turn. After a hundred yards I dropped. Doddy crashed next to me and then Tiny. Tiny had lost his hat. He snarled, “The bastards shot me hat, Corp!”
“Are you alright?”
“Aye it just nicked me head. I’ve had worse cuts shaving.”
“Right let’s work our way in the woods and try to flank them.”
The hedgerow had hidden us from their view and we slithered under the lower branches and snaked our way towards the enemy we knew were ahead of us. I saw a flash of grey and I tapped Doddy on the shoulder. He dropped as did his brother. I pointed ahead and they both nodded. I raised my rifle as I sighted it on the pickelhaube. I lowered my rifle and fired. There was a cry and the figure pitched forwards. I heard the rifles of my two men as they barked and I sighted on the infantryman who was aiming his gun my direction. The Lee Enfield has a fast action and I fired before he could get his shot off. I was less than fifty yards away and I saw his face explode as the .303 bullet entered his head and smashed through the back of his skull.
Suddenly I heard the terrifying sound of a machine gun as they began firing in our direction. I just lay down and pressed myself into the ground. Bits of branches and leaves cascaded down on my head and my body. I braced myself for the sudden impact of one of the bullets but it never came. When the gun stopped, they needed reloading I suspected, I raised my head and my gun. I saw the gunner a hundred yards away. He was standing to reload the gun and I fired. He fell dead across the gun. Doddy emptied his magazine at the gun and then shouted, “Sod this!” He stood and charged. His brother followed and I had no choice but to join them.
We all roared as we ran. Th is was no battle cry but it was the adrenalin and emotion of the charge. Miraculously the bullets coming in our direction missed us. I fired from the hip as I ran. We had no bayonets fitted and would have to improvise once we closed with them. I saw an officer level his pistol at me. I dropped to my knees, worked the bolt and fired. The bullet hit him in the chest and he fell backwards.
I heard the bugle sound the charge. The Germans had had enough and they began to stream away east. Doddy and Tiny were swinging their rifles like clubs and looked, for all the world, like some medieval warriors. I ran to the dead officer. He had a surprised look on his face. I took the pistol from his hand. Another second or two and I would be dead. It was my first souvenir. I took his holster and ammunition pouch too.
The rest of the troop appeared and I saw the relief on the sergeant’s face. “You are mad buggers! Why did you charge?”
Doddy shrugged, “It was bloody dangerous with that machine gun firing at us sarge.”
“ That was brave work, I am proud of you.”
Just them Major Harrison appeared and took in the scene with the dead bodies. “Well done , sergeant.”
It was only then I realised I couldn’t see the lieutenant.
“It wasn’t me sir, it was Corporal Harsker and the Brown boys. They charged a flaming machine gun.”
Major Harrison shook his head. He was still the schoolmaster who couldn’t understand the schoolboy prank. “Write me a report sergeant. By the way where is Lieutenant Ramsden?”
“With the horses, sir.” There was no criticism in the sergeant’s voice; it was just matter of fact.
“Very well. Better get your men mounted. Search the officers and sergeants for any maps or papers.”
When the sergeant saw the missing gun and holster
I said to the Brown boys, “Put a fresh magazine in. Then when I shout, run like buggery up the lane. Watch me, when I drop, you drop.”
I waited until I heard the rest of the troop open fire and then I shouted, “Run!” I ran as fast as I could. I heard the bullets but they were behind me. There was one cry of pain but I could not afford the time to turn. After a hundred yards I dropped. Doddy crashed next to me and then Tiny. Tiny had lost his hat. He snarled, “The bastards shot me hat, Corp!”
“Are you alright?”
“Aye it just nicked me head. I’ve had worse cuts shaving.”
“Right let’s work our way in the woods and try to flank them.”
The hedgerow had hidden us from their view and we slithered under the lower branches and snaked our way towards the enemy we knew were ahead of us. I saw a flash of grey and I tapped Doddy on the shoulder. He dropped as did his brother. I pointed ahead and they both nodded. I raised my rifle as I sighted it on the pickelhaube. I lowered my rifle and fired. There was a cry and the figure pitched forwards. I heard the rifles of my two men as they barked and I sighted on the infantryman who was aiming his gun my direction. The Lee Enfield has a fast action and I fired before he could get his shot off. I was less than fifty yards away and I saw his face explode as the .303 bullet entered his head and smashed through the back of his skull.
Suddenly I heard the terrifying sound of a machine gun as they began firing in our direction. I just lay down and pressed myself into the ground. Bits of branches and leaves cascaded down on my head and my body. I braced myself for the sudden impact of one of the bullets but it never came. When the gun stopped, they needed reloading I suspected, I raised my head and my gun. I saw the gunner a hundred yards away. He was standing to reload the gun and I fired. He fell dead across the gun. Doddy emptied his magazine at the gun and then shouted, “Sod this!” He stood and charged. His brother followed and I had no choice but to join them.
We all roared as we ran. Th is was no battle cry but it was the adrenalin and emotion of the charge. Miraculously the bullets coming in our direction missed us. I fired from the hip as I ran. We had no bayonets fitted and would have to improvise once we closed with them. I saw an officer level his pistol at me. I dropped to my knees, worked the bolt and fired. The bullet hit him in the chest and he fell backwards.
I heard the bugle sound the charge. The Germans had had enough and they began to stream away east. Doddy and Tiny were swinging their rifles like clubs and looked, for all the world, like some medieval warriors. I ran to the dead officer. He had a surprised look on his face. I took the pistol from his hand. Another second or two and I would be dead. It was my first souvenir. I took his holster and ammunition pouch too.
The rest of the troop appeared and I saw the relief on the sergeant’s face. “You are mad buggers! Why did you charge?”
Doddy shrugged, “It was bloody dangerous with that machine gun firing at us sarge.”
“ That was brave work, I am proud of you.”
Just them Major Harrison appeared and took in the scene with the dead bodies. “Well done , sergeant.”
It was only then I realised I couldn’t see the lieutenant.
“It wasn’t me sir, it was Corporal Harsker and the Brown boys. They charged a flaming machine gun.”
Major Harrison shook his head. He was still the schoolmaster who couldn’t understand the schoolboy prank. “Write me a report sergeant. By the way where is Lieutenant Ramsden?”
“With the horses, sir.” There was no criticism in the sergeant’s voice; it was just matter of fact.
“Very well. Better get your men mounted. Search the officers and sergeants for any maps or papers.”
When the sergeant saw the missing gun and holster
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