Stories and Letters from the Trenches — John Shaqi
Stories and Letters from the TrenchesVarious
History
Stories and Letters from the Trenches
Various
World War, 1914-1918 -- Anecdotes
"Well, I noticed that Risbourg was the only one who wasn't laughing,
so I called Ahmed to attention and told him the story of the
hemorrhage, whereupon he gave me a huge wink to show that it was all
a joke. Risbourg didn't regard it as such, so I went over and told
him that I understood, and that I wanted him to eat as much as he
wanted, and that it was all right. He is really very devoted to me,
and said: 'You, doctor, you understand, but all the time Ahmed tells
the nurse to tell you that I eat too much.'
"By this time they were all crowding around him trying to make up,
and he added: 'I know why they say such things! It is because I am
of the infantry of France, and they are zouaves and tirailleurs
(artillerymen) of Africa. I am alone among them.'
"Well, this was getting serious, so I made a speech and told
them they were all Frenchmen and brothers, and we all 'vived la
France!' Then Old Incorrigible had to pipe up again: 'Mais, maman,
Risbourg said I didn't smell good. And he spat when I said I was a
Frenchman. And also he said he was a German.'
"I said: 'Risbourg, did you tell him you were a German?' Risbourg
smiled broadly (he has one tooth gone just like Dave Warfield) and
said: 'Yes, doctor, but because the Irish boy told me to. Je fais
une plaisance.' So then I pointed out to him that he had had his
little joke, and Ahmed had had his, when he said that he ate too
much. Great applause from the Arabs, who quickly got the ethical
point. So we all made up and shook hands."
ROYALTY AT THE FRONT.
The following letter, written by Prince Joachim of Prussia, the
youngest son of the German Emperor, was addressed to a wounded
comrade in arms by the Prince, himself at that time recovering from
a wound suffered in battle. Prince Joachim, who is 24 years old,
is a Lieutenant in the First Prussian Infantry Guards. In a tone
of easy-going comradeship, not usually associated with the stern
and imperious Hohenzollerns, the young Prince wrote to his friend
and fellow-guardsman, Sergt. Karl Kummer, who had been sent, badly
wounded, to the home of his sister at Teplitz:
My dear Kummer: How sincerely I rejoiced to receive your very
solicitous letter! I was sure of Kummer for that; that no one could
hold him back when the time came to do some thrashing! God grant
that you may speedily recover, so that you can enter Potsdam,
crowned with glory, admired, and envied. Who is nursing you?
The old proud First Guard Regiment has proved that it was ready to
conquer and to die. Kummer, if I can in any way help you, I shall
gladly do so, by providing anything that will make you comfortable.
You know how happy I have always been for your devotion to the
service, and how we two always were for action (Schwung). I, too, am
proud to have been wounded for our beloved Fatherland, and I regret
only that I am not permitted to be with the regiment. Well, may God
take care of you! Your devoted
JOACHIM OF PRUSSIA.
* * * * *
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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