Notes of a Camp-Follower on the Western FrontHornung, E. W. (Ernest William)
History
Notes of a Camp-Follower on the Western Front
Hornung, E. W. (Ernest William)
World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives; World War, 1914-1918 -- War work -- Young Men's Christian Associations
'He was the best wee Sergeant ever a mon had,' one of them said to me,
the night after a costly raid. We have no English word to compare with
that loving diminutive; 'little' comes no nearer it than 'Tommy' comes
near 'Jock.' One even doubts whether there are any 'wee' Sergeants who
do not themselves make use of the word.
I could tell many a moving tale as it was told to me, in an accent that
I never adored before. On second thoughts it is the very thing I cannot
do and will not attempt. But here is a letter that has long been in my
possession; a part of it has been in print before, in a Harrow
publication, for it is all about a Harrow boy of great distinction; but
this is the whole letter. It makes without effort a number of the points
I have been labouring; it throws a golden light on the relations between
officers and men in a famous Highland Regiment; but its unique merit
lies in the fact that it was _not_ written for the boy's people to read.
It is a Jock's letter to a Jock, about their officer:--
'FRANCE,
1. 9. 15.
DEAR TOMMY,--
Just a note to let you know that I am still alive and
kicking. Things are much the same as when you left
here. We have had one good kick up since you were
wounded, that was on the 9th of May. We lost little
Lieut. ----, the best man that ever toed the line. You
know what like he was; the arguments you and him used
to have about politics. He always said you should have
been Prime Minister. None of the rest of them ever
mixed themselves with us the same as he done; he was a
credit to the regiment and to the father and mother
that reared him; and Tommy the boys that are left of
the platoon hopes that you will write to his father
and mother and let them know how his men loved him,
you can do it better than any of us. I enclose you a
cutting out of a paper about his death. He died at the
head of his platoon like the toff he was, and, Tommy,
I never was very religious but I think little ---- is
in Heaven. He knew that it was a forlorn hope before
we were half way, but he never flinched. He was not
got for a week or two after the battle. Well, dear
chum, I got your parcel and am very thankful for it. I
will be getting a furlough in a week or two and I will
likely come and see you, not half. All the boys that
you knew are asking kindly for you. We are getting
thinned out by degrees. There are 11 of us left of
the platoon that you know--some dead, some down the
line. But Tommy we miss you for your arguments, and
the old fiddle was left at Parides, nobody to play it;
but still we are full of life. I expect you will read
some of these days of something big. I may tell you
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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