The Wood Beyond

xvi

.. and the earth moved. Jesus Christ! — said Jammy — What the hell was that?

It takes a lot to startle Sergeant Jameson — hes got the kind of face that looks like its carved out of rock — and when he shouts on the parade ground he can set a whole intake of recruits pissing their pants. I know — he did it to me — I used to think he was the most terrible man on earth — I hated him worse than the Kaiser — till one night in Leeds a redcap corporal was putting me through the hoop when Jammys big hand descended on his shoulder and he said — One of mine — and I dont need no help to keep him straight. The redcap remembered urgent business elsewhere. I said — Thanks sarge. For what? — he asks like he didnt need gratitude from shit like me. For stopping me kicking that sod in the balls — I said. Wonder of wonders that made him laugh — and after that I began to change my mind about him — and him about me I reckon — cos I got my first stripe and you didnt do that without Sergeant Jamesons say so. But it werent till we got to France that we became really friendly. Theres nowt like picking up bits of your old platoon for bringing people together.

The battalion was still in the reserve area outside Arras when I got back from leave but we knew from the bombardment up to the north that something big was coming off — so we didnt expect to stay there much longer. And now this — about three this morning — the ground shaking like egg custard and the sky to the north all burning red as if the devils had tunnelled their way out of hell.

We were eating breakfast before we found out that our sappers had set off this huge mine under the Germans on the ridge near Messines. There was a hole in the ground as big as Bradford — one signaller said — and the Jerries were surrendering in their thousands — most on em stark naked cos the blast had blown their clothes off. Our boys were just walking through the gap in the German line not even having to bother about guns because the blast had jammed all them as it hadnt destroyed.

Some of our new lads were keen to get orders to get on up there — among them Archie Doyle. I hadnt been best pleased when I found him in our platoon when I got back off leave — but hes not daft and hed soon worked out it were better to act like an old mate of your corporals than an old enemy. So he was huffing and puffing about how we were missing our chance for a bit of easy glory till Jammy said — Thas not been here long enough to get chatty Doyle — theres some of us have heard it all before. Aye sarge — pipes Chuffy Chandler — but weve not heard a bang like that before — which Jammy had to admit was true.

Then Lieutenant Hurley — old Hurly Burly we called him came along and said we were moving. We all thought it would be up to Messines but gradually we realized that we were going too far north for that — and finally Hurley confirmed it — we were heading for the Salient.

That soon shut up all those whod ever been in the Salient before. In all that stinking festering front line the Salients like a bloody great boil sticking out towards the enemy. Hurly said wed be all right — the Messines mine had taken the southern corner off the Salient and it was only to be expected thered be a follow up attack mounted there within a matter of days if not hours. By the time we got there the Hun would likely be in full retreat. And I’ll be Queen of the May — said Jammy right out loud. The lieutenant laughed — hes a decent sort and weve all got used to his little daftnesses like always wanting to look on the bright side of things.

We camped near Pop to start with which were fine — egg and chips in the Cafe des Allies with a good singsong to follow whenever you could duck off duties — red hot weather — lots of football matches — and would you believe it young Gertie whod landed a job helping Captain Evenlode the adjutant actually got his cricket team going till Jammy hit the only ball we had into a river — and that was the end of that. Pity the Frogs dont play — said Gertie. Nor Jerry either — I said — Could have asked them for a game. True — he said — though perhaps if Jerry did play we wouldnt be fighting this war.

Mebbe he was making a joke but I dont think so.

It had to happen. Orders to move up into the Salient came yesterday. First by train to Ypres then we marched to Zillebeke where we waited for dark before moving up into the line. We were sitting by the lake enjoying the sunshine when Jammy suddenly yells — Minnie left! Where the hell it had come from Christ knows. We should have been well out of their range — mebbe it had a following wind or Fritz was trying a new gun — but there it was — a little black spot in the air tumbling slowly towards us. Most didnt risk looking — when Jammy yelled Minnie left! you headed right and dived into the first hole you could find. Thats what we did all except Hurly Burly. Hed loosened his Sam Browne so perhaps thats what did it. Someone said they saw him shooting off like a scalded cat — only he didnt head right but left — and all that was left of him wasnt worth collecting in a bucket.

It didnt feel like a good omen and we were more down than usual as we prepared to follow Jammy through the dark into our front line position. Then he was called up by the adjutant and a bit later he came back with someone behind him.

Corporal Pascoe — he said — This heres our new platoon commander.

I knew who it was before I saw his face and heard his voice.

Hello Pascoe — said Gertie Grindal — Isnt this jolly?

Yes sir — I said looking at Jammy whose huge face showed nowt — Where exactly is it were heading sir?

Southeast corner of some wood — what do you call it sergeant?

Sanctuary sir — said Jammy.

Id heard some misleading names for some terrible places but this sounded to me like it could be the worst fitting of them all.

Especially with Gertie in charge. Thats it — he said — Lovely name isn't it? — Get the men moving then sergeant — and if they need jollying along just tell them were heading to Sanctuary and that should speed them up eh? Sanctuary!