Read Online 1914 (British Ace) by Griff Hosker - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Griff Hosker
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he grinned, “I see you got yourself a little reminder of this day?”
I blushed a little, “Well I…”
“Look after yourself Billy Boy, you are learning.”
We gave the papers to the major. He examined them and Lieutenant Ramsden shuffled up, looking a little shame faced. “Damned arm! I can’t move as fast as I wanted to.”
I saw the look exchanged between the major and the sergeant. They were not taken in by the protestations from the young lieutenant.
“From these maps and papers it seems that these men are from the 1 st Army of Von Kluck. It looks like they are trying to sweep around the flanks of our army.”
Even I knew what that meant. We had to get through the whole of the 1 st Army to reach our own lines. Lieutenant Ramsden was standing next to the major and I saw him pale. “Could we not go back to Dunkirk and get taken home?”
The pitying look given to him by both the old soldiers made him retreat. They did not bother answering him. “I’ll tell the colonel.” He looked at me. “Are you and your men still happy to be the sharp end, William?”
I smiled, “Yes sir, but I wouldn’t mind another couple of lads. If we use a horse holder then there are only three of us.”
He nodded at Sergeant Armstrong who said, “Take Lynch and Foster.”
The two troopers were quite happy to be selected. At this stage of the war it was exciting for young lads. It was all still a lark. The dark days had yet to come. I felt happier knowing there were six of us. It was more fire power.
The major waved me over. “We’ll try to avoid t he Germans by heading due south towards Lys.”
We quickly watered and fed our horses; their welfare came first. I gathered the five men I was to lead around me. “If we are attacked we give five volleys. Listen for my orders. Jack, you and Robbie ride close to me. Brian, you and the Brown boys watch the woods. “I grinned, “They are good at that.” They nodded proudly. “But Tiny, even though you are a good soldier you are still a big bugger, keep your bleeding head down.”
He suddenly flourished a hat, like a conjuror with a rabbit, “I found it Corp!”
I took it from him and put my finger through the hole. “And that is how close your brother came to having to tell your mam that you were dead!” I could see he hadn’t thought it through and he contritely dropped his head. “Right, let’s get mounted.”
I felt more comfortable now with a trooper on either side of me. Our six eyes could cover more of the ground ahead of us. We were moving faster now. It ran the risk of running into the enemy but it was now a race to see if we could get to our army before the gap was closed.
Suddenly, as we rounded a bend in the road, I saw a machine gun being set up in the road. I had little time to think. The hedgerow was just four feet high and there was a field beyond. “Over the hedge! Now!” To their credit my section obeyed. I knew that Caesar would clear the obstacle and I hoped that the others would too. As I landed I turned, “Foster, get back to the sergeant and warn him about the machine gun. Tell him we will try to deal with it. The rest of you, follow me. And keep low in the saddle.”
The field was filled with wheat and was protected by a hedge. I knew that the machine gun would not be able to turn; we just needed to contend with the rifle men accompanying it. There was a lone tree close to the edge of the field. I rode there. “Tie you horses to the branches.”
Robbie looked at me, “Bit risky Corp? Suppose they run away?”
“You are right. You can be horse holder.”
He shook his head, “No, I was just saying like. You are in charge.”
“Good then let’s go. Spread out in a skirmish line; the Brown boys to my right. You two to my left. Don’t fire until I say.”
I heard orders being shouted in German and then the machine gun opened up. It wasn’t firing at us and I wondered who was
I blushed a little, “Well I…”
“Look after yourself Billy Boy, you are learning.”
We gave the papers to the major. He examined them and Lieutenant Ramsden shuffled up, looking a little shame faced. “Damned arm! I can’t move as fast as I wanted to.”
I saw the look exchanged between the major and the sergeant. They were not taken in by the protestations from the young lieutenant.
“From these maps and papers it seems that these men are from the 1 st Army of Von Kluck. It looks like they are trying to sweep around the flanks of our army.”
Even I knew what that meant. We had to get through the whole of the 1 st Army to reach our own lines. Lieutenant Ramsden was standing next to the major and I saw him pale. “Could we not go back to Dunkirk and get taken home?”
The pitying look given to him by both the old soldiers made him retreat. They did not bother answering him. “I’ll tell the colonel.” He looked at me. “Are you and your men still happy to be the sharp end, William?”
I smiled, “Yes sir, but I wouldn’t mind another couple of lads. If we use a horse holder then there are only three of us.”
He nodded at Sergeant Armstrong who said, “Take Lynch and Foster.”
The two troopers were quite happy to be selected. At this stage of the war it was exciting for young lads. It was all still a lark. The dark days had yet to come. I felt happier knowing there were six of us. It was more fire power.
The major waved me over. “We’ll try to avoid t he Germans by heading due south towards Lys.”
We quickly watered and fed our horses; their welfare came first. I gathered the five men I was to lead around me. “If we are attacked we give five volleys. Listen for my orders. Jack, you and Robbie ride close to me. Brian, you and the Brown boys watch the woods. “I grinned, “They are good at that.” They nodded proudly. “But Tiny, even though you are a good soldier you are still a big bugger, keep your bleeding head down.”
He suddenly flourished a hat, like a conjuror with a rabbit, “I found it Corp!”
I took it from him and put my finger through the hole. “And that is how close your brother came to having to tell your mam that you were dead!” I could see he hadn’t thought it through and he contritely dropped his head. “Right, let’s get mounted.”
I felt more comfortable now with a trooper on either side of me. Our six eyes could cover more of the ground ahead of us. We were moving faster now. It ran the risk of running into the enemy but it was now a race to see if we could get to our army before the gap was closed.
Suddenly, as we rounded a bend in the road, I saw a machine gun being set up in the road. I had little time to think. The hedgerow was just four feet high and there was a field beyond. “Over the hedge! Now!” To their credit my section obeyed. I knew that Caesar would clear the obstacle and I hoped that the others would too. As I landed I turned, “Foster, get back to the sergeant and warn him about the machine gun. Tell him we will try to deal with it. The rest of you, follow me. And keep low in the saddle.”
The field was filled with wheat and was protected by a hedge. I knew that the machine gun would not be able to turn; we just needed to contend with the rifle men accompanying it. There was a lone tree close to the edge of the field. I rode there. “Tie you horses to the branches.”
Robbie looked at me, “Bit risky Corp? Suppose they run away?”
“You are right. You can be horse holder.”
He shook his head, “No, I was just saying like. You are in charge.”
“Good then let’s go. Spread out in a skirmish line; the Brown boys to my right. You two to my left. Don’t fire until I say.”
I heard orders being shouted in German and then the machine gun opened up. It wasn’t firing at us and I wondered who was
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