1914 (British Ace) (8 page)

We all roared as we ran.  Th
is was no battle cry but it was the adrenalin and emotion of the charge.  Miraculously the bullets coming in our direction missed us.  I fired from the hip as I ran.  We had no bayonets fitted and would have to improvise once we closed with them. I saw an officer level his pistol at me.  I dropped to my knees, worked the bolt and fired.  The bullet hit him in the chest and he fell backwards.

I heard the bugle sound the charge. The Germans had had enough and they began to stream away east. Doddy and Tiny were swinging their rifles like clubs and looked, for
all the world, like some medieval warriors. I ran to the dead officer. He had a surprised look on his face.  I took the pistol from his hand. Another second or two and I would be dead.  It was my first souvenir. I took his holster and ammunition pouch too.

The rest of the troop appeared and I saw the relief on the sergeant’s face. “You are mad buggers! Why did you charge?”

Doddy shrugged, “It was bloody dangerous with that machine gun firing at us sarge.”

“
That was brave work, I am proud of you.”

Just them Major Harrison appeared and took in the scene with the dead bodies.  “Well done
, sergeant.”

It was only then I realised I couldn’t see the lieutenant.

“It wasn’t me sir, it was Corporal Harsker and the Brown boys.  They charged a flaming machine gun.”

Major Harrison shook his head.  He was still the schoolmaster who couldn’t understand the schoolboy prank. “Write me a report sergeant.  By the way where is Lieutenant Ramsden?”

“With the horses, sir.” There was no criticism in the sergeant’s voice; it was just matter of fact.

“Very well.
  Better get your men mounted.  Search the officers and sergeants for any maps or papers.”

When the sergeant saw the
missing gun and holster he grinned, “I see you got yourself a little reminder of this day?”

I
blushed a little, “Well I…”

“Look after yourself Billy Boy, you are learning.”

We gave the papers to the major.  He examined them and Lieutenant Ramsden shuffled up, looking a little shame faced. “Damned arm! I can’t move as fast as I wanted to.”

I saw the look exchanged between the major and the sergeant. They were not taken in by the protestations from the young lieutenant.

“From these maps and papers it seems that these men are from the 1
st
Army of Von Kluck.  It looks like they are trying to sweep around the flanks of our army.”

Even I knew what that meant. We had to get through the whole of the 1
st
Army to reach our own lines.  Lieutenant Ramsden was standing next to the major and I saw him pale. “Could we not go back to Dunkirk and get taken home?”

The pitying look given to him by both the old soldiers made him retreat. They did not bother answering him. “I’ll tell the colonel.” He looked at me. “Are you and your men still happy to be the sharp end, William?”

I smiled, “Yes sir, but I wouldn’t mind another couple of lads.  If we use a horse holder then there are only three of us.”

He nodded at Sergeant Armstrong who said, “Take Lynch and Foster.”

The two troopers were quite happy to be selected.  At this stage of the war it was exciting for young lads. It was all still a lark. The dark days had yet to come. I felt happier knowing there were six of us.  It was more fire power.

The major waved me over. “We’ll try to avoid t
he Germans by heading due south towards Lys.”

We quickly watered and fed our horses; their welfare came first.  I
gathered the five men I was to lead around me. “If we are attacked we give five volleys.  Listen for my orders. Jack, you and Robbie ride close to me.  Brian, you and the Brown boys watch the woods.  “I grinned, “They are good at that.” They nodded proudly.  “But Tiny, even though you are a good soldier you are still a big bugger, keep your bleeding head down.”

He suddenly flourished a hat, like a conjuror with a rabbit, “I found it Corp!”

I took it from him and put my finger through the hole.  “And that is how close your brother came to having to tell your mam that you were dead!” I could see he hadn’t thought it through and he contritely dropped his head. “Right, let’s get mounted.”

I felt more comfortable now with a trooper on either side of me.  Our six eyes could cover more of the ground ahead of us.  We were moving faster now.  It ran the risk of running into the enemy but it was now a race to see if we could get to our army before the gap was closed.

Suddenly, as we rounded a bend in the road, I saw a machine gun being set up in the road. I had little time to think.  The hedgerow was just four feet high and there was a field beyond. “Over the hedge! Now!” To their credit my section obeyed.  I knew that Caesar would clear the obstacle and I hoped that the others would too. As I landed I turned, “Foster, get back to the sergeant and warn him about the machine gun. Tell him we will try to deal with it.  The rest of you, follow me. And keep low in the saddle.”

The field was filled with wheat and was protected by a hedge.  I knew that the machine gun would not be able to
turn; we just needed to contend with the rifle men accompanying it. There was a lone tree close to the edge of the field.  I rode there.  “Tie you horses to the branches.”

Robbie looked at me, “Bit risky Corp?  Suppose they run away?”

“You are right.  You can be horse holder.”

He shook his head, “No, I was just saying like.  You are in charge.”

“Good then let’s go.  Spread out in a skirmish line; the Brown boys to my right.  You two to my left. Don’t fire until I say.”

I heard orders being shouted in German and then the machine gun opened up. It wasn’t firing at us and I wondered who was getting the worst of its wicked bite. There was a crack from before us and the
n smoke from the guns of the hidden Germans.

“Down!
Open fire!”

I saw a pair of legs below the hedge and I fired three shots.  I heard a scream as their owner fell.  I moved my gun up and to the left and fired three more. All I could hear now was the shouts of the Germans and the sound of bullets. I had no idea if we were hitting anyone.

“Forward!” As we ran towards the hedge I thought that a bayonet would come in handy. I had no idea why we had not been issued them. When we reached the hedge I could see the Germans on the other side. I think they were more surprised to see us. I didn’t need to give any orders I emptied my gun. I saw a gun being levelled at me and I remembered the officer’s Luger. I pulled it out of my tunic and hoped the safety was off.  I pulled the trigger until the gun clicked empty.  The remaining Germans held up their hands. We had our first prisoners.  We climbed over the hedge, keeping them covered. All of us were grinning.  This was easy. Then I heard Doddy say, “Jesus Christ!”

I looked to where he was pointing.  In the road w
ere the dead horses and trooper.  The machine gun had been slaughtering them.

“You bastard!”

I turned as Tiny swung his rifle at the machine gunner. “Leave it out Brown, he was doing his job.  Disarm them and search them for papers.” I saw that we had killed their officers and sergeants which explained their surrender. I desperately wanted to see who had been killed but I knew what my duty was.

“Robbie, go and get the horses.”
I ran down the road to see where the Germans had gone. I could see them, in the distance, fleeing away from us. If it had been cavalry it would have been a different matter.

By the time I reached the scene of devastation and death Robbie had returned with the horses.

“Here you are Corp.  These are all the papers and maps they had.” Doddy grinned as he handed them over.  He proudly showed me his Luger.  “And a little souvenir for me too.”

“Thanks Doddy. We’ll have to watch out for ammunition.  These are nine millimetres I think.” I shoved the papers into my tunic. Mount up.  I think we will be finding a different route this time.
Move the prisoners along.”

We had six prisoners and two were wounded.  Doddy glared at them as he shouted, “Move!” It was not German but they understood.

When we reached the rest of the troop I saw that we had lost at least six men and five horses.  I watched as Sergeant Armstrong put the fifth out of its misery. The angry looks thrown in Lieutenant Ramsden’s direction told me who they blamed.

Colonel Mackenzie rode up and he had
an angry red and serious face. “Put the dead in the wagons.  Were there any papers amongst the dead?”

“Yes sir.” I handed them over.

He nodded and gave them to Major Harrison, “This the chap you were telling me about?”

“Yes sir, Corporal Harsker.”

The colonel pointed down the road.  “Your work, Corporal?”

“Yes sir, we flanked them and attacked the gun.  I am just sorry we couldn’t save the lads sir.”

“Not your fault son.” He glared at the lieutenant. “Someone panicked. Well Corporal, as of now you are acting sergeant.”

“Thank you sir.”

“Don’t mention it.  You have come out of the last couple of actions with great credit.” He turned to Major Harrison, “Well Charles, how do we get out of this dilemma?”

“Head for Calais sir.”

“Right. “ He turned and shouted, “Someone get these prisoners secured. Sergeant Harsker, do you have the map?”

“Yes sir.”

“Then find us a way to Calais but try to avoid Germans this time eh?” He was smiling as he said it and I felt relieved.  I had blamed myself for the machine gunning of my comrades.  I saw now that I was not responsible. As I mounted Caesar I saw Sergeant Armstrong smile and nod.  He appeared happy and that pleased me.

My first task as a sergeant, albeit acting and I completed it, successfully.  We reached Calais without further incident and we set up a camp east of the port. There was still a great deal of confusion about where the front line was but the presence of the British and French warships in the harbour were reassuring.

Once we had erected the tents and seen to the horses I had time to speak with Sergeant Armstrong. “What happened
, sarge?”

He smiled, “We are both sergeants now and it’s George.”

I nodded, “George then, but it will take some getting used to.”

“Mr Ramsden decided that we could charge the gun and reach it before they fired.  He ordered the lads to charge.” He shook his head.  “They never stood a chance.  As soon as the first ones fell I shouted to fall back and then you and your
boys attacked.  That saved us.  It was a waste of horses and men.”

“But why did he do it? It seems stupid.”

He gave me a wry look, “That may be your fault, Bill.”

“Mine?” I was mystified.  I had been nowhere near him.

“Not directly of course, but everyone was going on, the major, the colonel, everyone, about how gutsy it was of you and the Brown boys to have attacked that emplacement the day before. The difference was he didn’t lead.  He just ordered the charge.”

Quartermas
ter Sergeant Grimes walked in and saw me, “I hear you are sergeant now?”

“Yes Quartermaster Sergeant.”

“You’ve done well but just make sure it doesn’t go to your head.  It’s only temporary, remember.”

He strode off. George shook his head, “He was always a miserable bugger but he is a good cavalryman.”

“It seems daft having two sergeants when the troop is only twenty odd men strong.”

“We should have a couple of corporals so you will have to do the work of two men. Mind
, those Brown boys look useful.”

“They are but they tend to rush into things; a bit like the lieutenant.”

George’s face became serious, “No, Bill, he just sends others to do his dirty work.  I don’t think his uncle was impressed.”

Over the next two days
we sent out patrols to see where the Germans were.  Thankfully they were further east than we were. Orders finally arrived for the brigade to continue its move south to rejoin the BEF which was now digging in around Amiens.  Once again we decamped and, once again, it was left to our troop to scout.  We had organised the troop so that I had my nine scouts and Sergeant Armstrong led the rest.  We had discounted the lieutenant who was a nominal leader at best.  He now deferred to George on almost every matter.  We would not have to ride the gauntlet of death which our dead comrades had.

Doddy and I had managed to acquire some ammunition for our
Lugers.  I suspect the colonel would have disapproved but it was handy having a gun which could fire eight shots off even quicker than a rifle. We now had better intelligence than when we had moved south from Dunkirk. The armies of both the French and British were retreating towards Paris and Von Kluck’s Corps were ahead of us.  We had grown up in the last week and were much more cautious. We checked every bush and hedge to see what lurked behind it. The colonel came to see us as we were preparing to leave.

“The main column will keep to the roads but, Sergeant
Harsker, your men can roam at will.  You have shown how resourceful you are and the country hereabouts is perfect for cavalry; use it. Find the enemy before he finds us!”