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One young man : $b The simple and true story of a clerk who enlisted in 1914, who fought on the western front for nearly two years, was severely wounded at the battle of the Somme, and is now on his way back to his desk. — John Shaqi

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One young man : $b The simple and true story of a clerk who enlisted in 1914, who fought on the western front for nearly two years, was severely wounded at the battle of the Somme, and is now on his way back to his desk.

World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives, British

"In our little compartment of six two were killed within a
     month and one wounded; the other three survived until the
     first of July, when one was killed, one was taken a prisoner
     of war, and I was wounded and rendered unfit for further
     service. When at last our train started, amid rousing cheers
     for the ladies and a fluttering of white handkerchiefs from
     the little group on the station platform, we seemed to leave
     the last of civilisation behind.

     "Before midnight we were under shell-fire in the Infantry
     Barracks of Ypres."

He writes to his mother:

     "My word we _were_ tired at the end of the journey. We are
     stationed in the military barracks of the city, and have had
     a chance of looking round the town. The buildings,
     especially the cathedral, are very much damaged. The only
     discomforts are the lack of food and the absence of money to
     buy it. Both G. and I landed here without a penny, but
     managed to borrow enough to buy a loaf. We know now what it
     is to be hungry; we have 1/4 lb. of bread a day only, and no
     milk in the tea, so you can see that what you want you must
     buy, and it's terribly expensive here, 6_d_. for a loaf,
     etc. But we shall be paid in a day or so. The only things
     which are really necessary, and which we cannot get here,
     are candles and Oxo cubes. Although I don't want to be a
     burden to you, I should like you to send 1 lb. of candles
     and some cubes. The candles are used for boiling water or
     tea, etc., in the trenches, and it is the only way we can
     get anything hot. Of course anything in the way of food is
     acceptable, but I can understand that you have enough to do
     without extra trouble and expense. Anyway, should any kind
     friends wish to send, please let them do so.

     "We are two miles from trenches, and shall be going in on
     Sunday. A few shells are knocking round, but we take no
     notice and sleep well. Well, don't worry. We are in
     comfortable billets and with very decent fellows, and they
     have shared their bread, etc., with us."

I shall not attempt to picture Sydney Baxter's daily life in the
terrible salient of Ypres in any detail, but that I may prove my words
that he was a typical soldier let me quote just one letter received at
this time.

     "MY OWN DEAR MOTHER,

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

One young man : $b The simple and true story of a clerk who enlisted in 1914, who fought on the western front for nearly two years, was severely wounded at the battle of the Somme, and is now on his way back to his desk.

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