TRANSCRIBED FROM THE STAR PROGRESS DECEMBER 13, 1918 P. 4
Just a line to let you know Jerry has shot me up a bit, and I’m in the hospital with a slight shell wound in the left leg below the knee. I am getting along nicely now and hope to get back to the firing line soon.
We have been quite busy the last few weeks or so. The first time we went over the top as a whole (small units had gone over previously) we went up against Jerry’s strongest line. Jerry thought that it was impregnable, but of course nothing is impossible and he is a long way from there now. I very fortunately went thru that without a scratch but had a few narrow escapes. This time was different. We were rustled out of our billets about 2 a.m., took a little hike and stretched out behind a machine company which had taken up a position just over the crest of a hill. We were told before we started that all we had to worry about was a counter-barrage but it was doubtful if there would be any. Well, there certainly was. I know, because we were to map for the first wave, and we got it all. I was walking thru somebodys’ garden when a shell burst in the air right in front of me and so close that I felt the heat of the explosion on my face and at the same instant that I was doubled up and flung down by the concussion something hit me in the shin.
It’s a very delightful sensation to have a shell go off right under your nose, very delightful indeed, it’s just like h- -l. But I soon got over it, moped around, found some bread, a can of jam and some cigaretts then sat down and took it easy for a couple of hours till somebody came along and told me where the dressing station was.
This is the limit of the paper. I’ll have to close but will write again before I leave for the lines.
ROBERT.
NOTES: This letter was written by a soldier only identified as Robert.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
Just a line to let you know Jerry has shot me up a bit, and I’m in the hospital with a slight shell wound in the left leg below the knee. I am getting along nicely now and hope to get back to the firing line soon.
We have been quite busy the last few weeks or so. The first time we went over the top as a whole (small units had gone over previously) we went up against Jerry’s strongest line. Jerry thought that it was impregnable, but of course nothing is impossible and he is a long way from there now. I very fortunately went thru that without a scratch but had a few narrow escapes. This time was different. We were rustled out of our billets about 2 a.m., took a little hike and stretched out behind a machine company which had taken up a position just over the crest of a hill. We were told before we started that all we had to worry about was a counter-barrage but it was doubtful if there would be any. Well, there certainly was. I know, because we were to map for the first wave, and we got it all. I was walking thru somebodys’ garden when a shell burst in the air right in front of me and so close that I felt the heat of the explosion on my face and at the same instant that I was doubled up and flung down by the concussion something hit me in the shin.
It’s a very delightful sensation to have a shell go off right under your nose, very delightful indeed, it’s just like h- -l. But I soon got over it, moped around, found some bread, a can of jam and some cigaretts then sat down and took it easy for a couple of hours till somebody came along and told me where the dressing station was.
This is the limit of the paper. I’ll have to close but will write again before I leave for the lines.
ROBERT.
NOTES: This letter was written by a soldier only identified as Robert.
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT