The Better Germany in War Time: Being Some Facts Towards FellowshipPicton, Harold W. (Harold Williams)
History
The Better Germany in War Time: Being Some Facts Towards Fellowship
Picton, Harold W. (Harold Williams)
World War, 1914-1918 -- Hospitals, charities, etc.; World War, 1914-1918 -- Prisoners and prisons, German
Our lads almost lost their reason for the time being, and
heedless of shells and bullets, mounted the first German
parapet. We killed many of them, but it is fair to say they
didn’t give in. They quickly had reinforcements, and we were
compelled against heavy odds to yield the trench to the enemy.
Angry fighting continued, and our game now was to lure as many
of the Germans towards our lines as possible so that we could
mow them down with our guns. On they came, many hundreds of
them, and as quickly they fell.
Our fellows got it too, and one little party was absolutely at
the mercy of the enemy. Two of our young officers and five men
were severely wounded and their position was helpless, for it
was impossible to rescue them. Despite our tremendous fire the
Germans, with fixed bayonets, tried to reach the party and their
intention was obvious. They got within a few yards of the
wounded when one of their number sprang in front of them and
flashed a crucifix. “Stop,” he shouted, and then he knelt down
by the side of our men and blessed them. The other Germans
immediately withdrew.
Then we managed to reach the wounded and our officer thanked the
priest for the brave way in which he had behaved in the face of
his own men. “Take me,” said the priest. “I am your prisoner.”
The officer said he would not do that, but he would see that he
returned to the German lines unharmed. The promise was kept, and
before they parted the priest, falling on his knees, thanked our
officer warmly, adding: “God bless you and good luck!”
MUTUAL FEARS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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