Deeds of heroism and bravery : $b The book of heroes and personal daring — John Shaqi
Deeds of heroism and bravery : $b The book of heroes and personal daring
History
Deeds of heroism and bravery : $b The book of heroes and personal daring
World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives
“Our game sounds comfortable and protected, but that is a myth. It
is a mystery how ever any of us got there or got back. You feel
very important because you are heralded, followed and encircled by
miniature geysers of earth, smoke and biff-bang! Your own infantry
flees from you as if you bore the plague. A good many of our lot got
into serious trouble, and quite a few faces of chums are missing
to-day. The day for the British Army was a veritable howling success,
and the Boche fought here with no spirit at all. They bolted like
rabbits, throwing away rifles and equipment, some back to Berlin and
some to us, hands up, and Kamerading. Our casualties were very light,
indeed, owing to the absolutely artistic work of the artillery; and
with our airmen the combination is unbeatable. These wonderful airmen!
Like meteors in the sky, they swoop and fly, entirely regardless of
everything but the job on hand.
“Our men fight so cheerfully and whimsically and sarcastically. There
is no vestige of hate toward the Boche, only an abiding disgust and
hearty contempt—a feeling as toward a mongrel who has fairly gone and
got hydrophobia and must be killed to save valuable human life. We are
really most jubilant over the past three days’ work, and every one is
smiling and happy and cracking jokes. Gramophones are whirling at top
speed, bands are playing in the camps, pipes are skirling and moaning
and quickening the pulse, and the Hun is licking his wounds in silence
over there to the east, in silence and afraid.”
The War Office took cognizance of the little affair:
“LONDON, July 12th, 1917.
“TO ——:
“Beg to inform you that Lieutenant Z., Heavy Branch Machine-Gun Corps,
was wounded June 7th, but remained at duty.
“SECRETARY, WAR OFFICE.”
On June 20th the Military Cross was awarded to Lieutenant Z.
EPIC OF THE FOREIGN LEGION
Its Wonderful Story Will Stand as One of the Vital Things of the War
The self-redeemed have always had the world’s sympathy—sometimes they
have won the world’s acclaim. Visitors to that shrine of French honor
and glory, the famous Hôtel des Invalides, may now see the battleflag
of the Foreign Legion, draped between the flag of the Cuirassiers who
fell at Reichshofen, and the standard borne by the Garibaldians in
1870-1871—not only draped in that honorable association, but wearing
on its folds the cross of the Legion of Honor. And those who know will
tell visitors that that flag was the flag of the redeemed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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