"No Road To Glory"

Major A. R.. Thompson "Drew"

"At a field dressing station Jones asked for rum, and someone passed him a cigarette tin full.  He gulped down the fiery liquid seeking oblivion but still he could find no ease.  Writhing, he tried to turn, and put his weight on Sowers' mangled leg.
'Lieutenant Jones here?' called a voice.
'He's inside,' answered an orderly.  'Be careful where you tread, they're all pretty bad and the place is crammed full.'
'Hello Jonsey old chap," said Church, 'your platoon ran right into that little strafe -- about eight bulls on the duck walk.  Just three of your men turned up.  They told a pretty bad story.  Jolly sent me back to find out what had happened.  What was your strength goin in?"
'Thirty-on.'
'Three arrived with whole skins; ten are lying out there dead, probably a few more drowned;  fifteen, counting you, are here; they just about wiped you out.'
'H--?' queried Jones.
'Dead, the first I saw as I come along.'
'Poor chap,' sobbed Jones, 'five minutes sooner we'd have been all clear.  We waited all to long for H--.  Tonight, which was it, chance or destiny?"

Written by Major A. R. Thompson (Drew). Major Thompson served overseas with the famous 4th Battalion, C.E.F. and was for a time brigade wiring officer of the First Brigade.  "No Road to Glory" appeared in serial form in the Canadian Military Gazette during the Second World War.

~ Canadian Military Gazette  NAVY -- ARMY-- AIR FORCE, Established 1885.

[In the days leading up to November 11, The Neat Little Bookshop will follow one soldier's story in the first World War.]