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One Young Man
The simple
and true story of a clerk who enlisted in 1914, who
fought on the Western Front for nearly two years, was
severely wounded at the Battle of the Somme and is now
on his way back to his desk
by
Reginald Davis
Edited by Sir Ernest Hodder-Williams
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This is
the Second Edition, Printed for Private Circulation in 1936 by the
Author and signed and dedicated by him
Although
originally published pseudonymously (as the work of “Sydney
Baxter”) the author was subsequently revealed to be Reginald
Davis. Further research indicates that Davis, who enlisted in
November 1914, served with “D” Coy, 1/9th Londons
(Queen Victoria’s Rifles), until being severely wounded on the
Somme.
“The trenches are in a rotten state now owing to the
heavy rain and the snow. It’s like walking on a sponge
about eighteen inches deep. Squelch, squelch you go and
not infrequently get stuck; parts are knee deep in
water, and icy cold water trickling into your boots is
the reverse of pleasant or warm. Then the rain trickles
through the dug-out roof -- that caps it. I really don't
think there can be anything more irritating than the
drip, drip in the region of the head.”
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Inscription by the Author on the front pastedown (shown
much enlarged)
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Front cover and spine
Further images of this book are
shown below
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Publisher and place of
publication |
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Dimensions in inches (to
the nearest quarter-inch) |
Printed for Private Circulation
Originally published by Hodder & Stoughton in
1917, Davis himself arranged for the book to be re-published in 1936 for
the purpose, it appears, of distributing copies to friends and relations. |
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4¾ inches wide x 7½ inches tall |
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Edition |
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Length |
This edition dates from 1936 [first
published by Hodder & Stoughton, 1917] |
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[xi] + 125 pages |
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Condition of covers |
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Internal condition |
Original red cloth gilt (leatherette ?). The
covers are rubbed and slightly marked: there are some minute white spots on
the front cover (visible in the image) and a larger, but faint, old stain on
the rear cover, which is difficult to see in the scan as it blends in
somewhat. There is a shallow vertical crease down the centre of the spine
and a forward spine lean. The spine ends are bumped. The text block is
rolled with some curvature to the covers. |
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This volume is inscribed on the front
pastedown by the Author, Reginald Davis:
"To Mr Mrs Miss Douch with their neighbour "One Young
Man's" compliments. Reginald J. Davis.
16-VI-36"
There are no other internal markings and the text is clean
throughout. The paper has tanned with age and the edge of the text block is
dust-stained and lightly foxed. There is a more heavily tanned section on pages 16-17 from an old cutting or clipping, since removed.
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Dust-jacket present? |
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Other
comments |
No |
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This privately printed subsequent Edition is
often mistaken for the very rare 1917 First Edition as, when reprinted in
1936, the statement “Published in 1917 by Hodder & Stoughton Ltd” appears
opposite the Title-Page (please see the image below). This should, more
correctly, have stated “First published in 1917 by Hodder & Stoughton Ltd” to
avoid confusion.
I had, many years ago, another example of this
Edition in plain blue cloth blocked in black, so it is possible that this
volume was a "Deluxe Edition" blocked in gilt in what appears to be
leatherette. There are a few minor marks on the covers and the text block is
rolled; the internal condition is very clean, with just the inscription on
the front pastedown. |
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Illustrations,
maps, etc |
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Contents |
NONE : No illustrations are called
for |
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Please see below for details |
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Post & shipping
information |
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Payment options |
The packed weight is approximately
500 grams.
Full shipping/postage information is
provided in a panel
at the end of this listing.
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Payment options
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UK buyers: cheque (in
GBP), debit card, credit card (Visa, MasterCard but
not Amex), PayPal
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panel at the end of this listing. |
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One Young Man
Contents
Chapter I
Introduces One Young Man
Chapter II
One Young Man Joins the Army
Chapter III
One Young Man in Camp
Chapter IV
One Young Man on Active Service
Chapter V
One Young Man At Hill 60
Chapter VI
One Young Man Receives a Letter
Chapter VII
One Young Man in the Salient
Chapter VIII
One Young Man's Sunday
Chapter IX
One Young Man on Trek
Chapter X
One Young Man Answers Questions
Chapter XI
One Young Man's Leave
Chapter XII
One Young Man Again in the Trenches
Chapter XIII
One Young Man Gets a "Blighty"
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One Young Man
Foreword
I am glad that this very
personal little book is to be re-published, if only for private
circulation, for it rings as true to-day as it did yesterday.
It tells the story of one young man in the Great War, but, in
fact, it reveals no less the personality of the writer who knit
the young man's story together,
The young man continues—the writer has passed on.
My brother is revealed here, not as the famous publisher, but as
a man whose sympathy was so quick and passionate that he
literally lived the suffering and trials of others.
It is this living sympathy, given so freely, that lies like a
wreath of everlasting flowers on his memory now.
It is no longer a secret that the real name of the " Sydney
Baxter " of this story is Reginald Davis; and those of us who
know him and have watched every step of his progress, from his
first small job of the " pen and ledger " to the Secretaryship
of a great Company, are astonished at the understanding and
accuracy of this portrayal of a young man's inner self and outer
deeds.
It is true that Sir Ernest Hodder-Williams did little more than
comment on the diary written by Davis himself. But how well he
explains it; how well he reads into its touching cheerfulness
and its splendid sorrow the eternal truth that only by suffering
and obedience can the purposes of God and man be fulfilled.
Davis has won his spurs. He bears the marks of his service in
the Great War with honour and with never a complaint. His old
chief and chronicler was proud of him then. He would be proud of
him to-day.
R. PERCY HODDER-WILLIAMS.
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One Young Man
Excerpts:
Chapter IV One Young
Man on Active Service
Sydney Baxter was sent with his unit
to Rouen. He writes:
"We were tightly packed in a small tent at Rouen Camp. The following
morning and afternoon we were busily engaged in being fitted out
with extra equipment and ammunition, and so did not have time to
look around. We had great hopes, however, of seeing the city in the
evening, but we had to 'Stand by' and on no account leave camp. This
was horrible. The tents were too dark to play cards, we had no
reading matter or letters to answer, and once more seemed doomed to
an evening of deadly dreariness. However, we decided to patrol the
camp, my chum and I. As we walked off together we little dreamed
that exactly one month from that day he was to be called upon to pay
the supreme sacrifice of all. We walked round that camp, feeling
that in each other we had our only link with home, with past
associations. We did not speak much. Each had his own thoughts, each
was subconsciously leaning on the other for support, for the coming
unknown experiences. It was a cold March evening, and for want of
anything to do, and in the hope of getting a little warmth, we
decided to go back to our tent and turn in. I have tried to give an
idea of how we were feeling; it can be summed up as tired and
cold--and a bit homesick.
"It was just then that we spotted a tent with the sign of 'The Red
Triangle.' We had visions of hot tea. An oasis in the desert could
not have been more welcome. We entered the large tent; it was very
full, and a long line was patiently awaiting the turn for
purchasing. There was no shouting, no pushing or elbowing to get up
to the front and be served first. The tent was really and truly a
haven of peace--such a welcome port of call. On the small tables
were magazines and 'Blighty' newspapers, paper and envelopes were
given for the asking, and a gramophone was grinding out the tunes we
all loved. We sat at one of the tables, so thankful for such a
change of scene, and for the warmth of the hot tea. The same
welcome, the same homely atmosphere, were here as in the other Y.M.
centres. One felt, one was made to feel, that his was the right to
enter and stay and enjoy himself each in his own way, and that is
why the Y.M. is so popular, and why both the taciturn and the
jocular find their way by common consent to these Y.M.C.A. tents."
In a few days came the order to proceed to Ypres. He writes:
"We swung round into the station yard, and were allotted to our
compartments, fondly imagining we should be off in a few minutes. We
took off our equipment and other paraphernalia, and settled down for
our journey. A minute or so afterwards the order was passed down
that the train would not start before 7 o'clock, and that men might
leave their compartments but not the station. Here was a fine
look-out. It was only about 2 o'clock, and we had to look forward to
at least five hours of weary waiting, without anything hot to drink
and only bully and biscuits to eat. It was not a pleasant prospect,
you will agree, but apparently it was nothing out of the usual, for
the 'Association of the Red Triangle' was ready and waiting for us,
and had a large canteen, run entirely by ladies, on the station.
Here we were able to provide for our journey, fill our water-bottles
with tea and our haversacks with ham, rolls, and fruit. This was the
best refreshment room I have been into, and it was our last glimpse
of English ladies for many months. These ladies are doing a splendid
and most self-sacrificing work, for their hours are long and their
duties heavy. I wonder if it has ever occurred to them how much
their presence meant to us boys? For many they were the last seen of
the womanhood of our race."
I wonder too. Will any of those ladies read these lines? I hope
so--I'd like them to know what their presence meant to just one of
the boys they have been serving so well. They will have their
reward. I should like them to have just one word of a Tommy's thanks
now. He continues:
"In our little compartment of six two were killed within a month and
one wounded; the other three survived until the first of July, when
one was killed, one was taken a prisoner of war, and I was wounded
and rendered unfit for further service. When at last our train
started, amid rousing cheers for the ladies and a fluttering of
white handkerchiefs from the little group on the station platform,
we seemed to leave the last of civilisation behind.
"Before midnight we were under shell-fire in the Infantry Barracks
of Ypres."
He writes to his mother:
"My word we
were tired at the end of the journey. We are
stationed in the military barracks of the city, and have had a
chance of looking round the town. The buildings, especially the
cathedral, are very much damaged. The only discomforts are the lack
of food and the absence of money to buy it. Both G. and I landed
here without a penny, but managed to borrow enough to buy a loaf. We
know now what it is to be hungry; we have 1/4 lb. of bread a day
only, and no milk in the tea, so you can see that what you want you
must buy, and it's terribly expensive here, 6d. for a loaf, etc. But
we shall be paid in a day or so. The only things which are really
necessary, and which we cannot get here, are candles and Oxo cubes.
Although I don't want to be a burden to you, I should like you to
send 1 lb. of candles and some cubes. The candles are used for
boiling water or tea, etc., in the trenches, and it is the only way
we can get anything hot. Of course anything in the way of food is
acceptable, but I can understand that you have enough to do without
extra trouble and expense. Anyway, should any kind friends wish to
send, please let them do so.
"We are two miles from trenches, and shall be going in on Sunday. A
few shells are knocking round, but we take no notice and sleep well.
Well, don't worry. We are in comfortable billets and with very
decent fellows, and they have shared their bread, etc., with us."
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Chapter V One Young
Man At Hill 60
Many have described in vivid, and none
in too vivid, language the fighting in the spring of 1915. This one
young man went through it all, through the thickest of it all. He
can tell a tale which, if written up and around, would be as
thrilling as any yet recorded of those heroic days. But I prefer,
and I know he, a soldier, would prefer, to chronicle the events of
his day after day just as they occurred, without colour, and without
comment.
I print, then, Sydney Baxter's account of the fighting as he wrote
it. I promised that this should be an altogether true chronicle, and
it is well that some who live in the shelter of other men's heroism
should know of the sacrifices by which they are saved. And then,
too, as I read his pages, I heard a suggestion that we were all in
danger of "spoiling" the wounded who come back to us after enduring,
for our sakes, the pains he here describes.
"For three nights the bombardment had been tremendous.
"It was 7 o'clock on the Sunday morning when we first got the
alarm--'turn out and be ready to march off at once.' We heard that
the Hill--the famous Hill 60--had gone up and that we had been
successful in holding it, but the rumours were that the fighting was
terrific. We were soon marching on the road past battered
Vlamertinghe. Shells of heavy calibre were falling on all sides, and
we made for the Convent by the Lille gate, by a circuitous
route--round by the Infantry Barracks. We dumped our packs in this
Convent, where there were still one or two of the nuns who had
decided to face the shelling rather than leave their old home.
"We were sorted up into parties. Our job was to carry barbed wire
and ammunition up to the Hill. I was first on the barbed-wire party;
there were about fifty of us and we collected the 'knife-rests' just
outside the Lille gate, and proceeded up the railway cutting. Shells
were falling fairly fast, as indeed they always seemed to along this
cut. At last we got our knife-rests up by the Hill and dumped them
there. Fortunately we had very few casualties. We started to go
back, but, half-way, we were stopped at the Brigade Headquarters, a
badly damaged barn, and were told that we had to make another
journey with bombs. We were just getting a few of these bombs out of
the barn when the Boches landed three shells right on top of it.
Many of our men were laid out, but we had to leave them and try to
get as much ammunition out as possible. The barn soon caught fire,
and this made the task a very dangerous one indeed. Every minute we
were expecting the whole lot of ammunition to go up, but our officer
had already taken a watch on it and gave the alarm just a few
seconds before the whole building went clean up into the air.
"We then began to retrace our steps along the railway out to the
Hill. Each man carried two boxes of bombs. Just as we reached the
communication trench, leading on to the Hill itself, the Boches sent
over several of the tear-gas shells. We stumbled about half-blind,
rubbing our eyes. The whole party realised that the boys holding the
Hill needed the bombs, so we groped our way along as best we could,
snuffling and coughing, our eyes blinking and streaming. We stood at
intervals and passed the bombs from one to the other, and had nearly
completed our job when the word came down that no one was to leave
the Hill, as a counter-attack was taking place a few minutes before
6 o'clock. We had then been at it for nearly ten hours. By this time
the bombardment from both sides was stupendous; every g un on each
side seemed concentrated on this one little stretch, on this small
mound.
"Six o'clock came and I heard a shrill whistle and knew that our
boys were just going over the top. Immediately there was a deafening
rattle of machine guns and rifle fire. And then a stream of wounded
poured down this communication trench. The wounds were terrible,
mostly bayonet. None were dressed; there had been no time, they were
just as they had been received. Many a poor chap succumbed to his
injuries as he staggered along our trench. To keep the gangway clear
we had to lift these dead bodies out and put them on the top of the
parapets. It was ghastly, but you get accustomed to ghastly things
out here. You realise that fifty dead bodies are not equal to one
living. And these poor fellows, who only a few minutes before had
been alive and full of vigour, were now just blocking the trench.
And so we simply lifted the bodies out and cast them over the top.
By this time the trench was absolutely full of wounded, and our
little party was told to act as stretcher-bearers, and to get the
stretcher cases down. We were only too glad to do something to help.
The first man that my chum and I carried died half-way down the
cutting. We felt sorry for him, but could do nothing. He was dead.
So we lifted his body on to the side of the track and returned for
the living. This work lasted some considerable time, and when more
stretcher-bearers came up, most of the cases had been carried down,
so we returned to the Convent exhausted, nerve-shaken, and very glad
of the opportunity of a few hours' sleep. The sights we had seen,
the nerve-racking heavy shelling had upset our chaps pretty badly.
Many of them sobbed. To see and hear a man sob is terrible, almost
as terrible as some of the wounds I have seen--and they have been
very awful. However, as quite a number of the men had only recently
come out, it was natural enough that we should be upset by this
ordeal. Time and repeated experiences of this kind toughen if they
do not harden a man--but for many this was the first experience.
"Early the next morning the whole battalion made a move nearer to
the Hill. For the greater part of the day we stood to in dug-outs on
the side of the railway embankment, but at dusk we lined up and
received instructions as to the work we had to do that night and the
following day. Our officers told us that we were going to the Hill
to hold off all counter-attacks, and that if any man on the way up
was wounded no one was to stay with him. He must be left to wait for
the stretcher-bearers. Every man would be needed for the coming
struggle, and although it seemed almost too hard that one must see
his chum struck down and be unable to stop and bind up his wounds,
there was no doubt that the order was very necessary.
"We started off in single file by platoons. This time we did not go
up the cutting, but made our way round by the reservoir and the
dilapidated village of Zillebeke. The first man to go down was one
of my own section. We remembered the order not to stop, although the
temptation was very strong. So we left him, wishing him the best of
luck and hoping that he would soon be in Blighty. After this the
casualties came faster and faster as we entered into the shell-swept
area. The machine guns were sweeping round and were making havoc in
our ranks. Gradually we drew near to the little wood just beside
Hill 60, and were told to occupy any dug-outs there until further
orders. It was at this time that the whizz-bang shell made its
debut. We had not encountered this kind of shell before; it was one
that gave absolutely no warning and was used for quite small ranges.
"We had been in these dug-outs for about half an hour when we were
told to fall in and each man to carry two boxes of bombs. We then
went into the communication trench of the old front line. At this
stage our company commander was wounded.
"However, we got on to the Hill, and each man was detailed--some for
firing, some for bombing, and some for construction. All the
trenches were blown in entirely, and a large number of us, including
my chum and myself, were detailed for this construction work. Under
heavy shelling we tried to build up the blown-in portions of the
trenches. This was just at a corner leading right on to the Hill and
part of our old front line. We laboured here all night through. Just
before dawn the shelling increased, and the bombardment grew very
terrific. All possible were rushed up into the crater to take the
places of the fallen. Casualties were terrible, and the wounded came
past our corner in one stream; several of my own friends were
amongst them, and two of them, who had come out with me, were killed
just a few yards away. This terrific cannonade continued until dawn,
when things quietened down a little. Every one's nerves were on
edge, and all of us were thoroughly tired out. In every part of the
trench lay numbers of dead bodies; in fact, to move about, one had
to climb over them. I sat down, dead beat, for some time on what I
thought was a sandbag. I discovered afterwards it was a dead body.
"Shortly afterwards we were relieved by another regiment, and in
small parties of tens made our way back into Ypres. This was done in
daylight, and we were spotted and shelled by the Boches. However, we
were only too glad to get away from that ghastly hell, and literally
tore along the hedges down past the reservoir into Ypres. At the
hospital, at the other end of the town, the remnants of the
battalion were collected, and it was there that Sir Horace
Smith-Dorrien spoke to us, congratulating our battalion on its stand
the night before. Worn out, we lined up and marched back along the
road to Vlamertinghe, fondly imagining we were going back to our
well-earned rest (as a matter of fact that was the programme), but
we had not been in these huts more than half an hour when down the
road from St. Julien there rushed one long column of transports,
riderless horses, and wounded (mostly of the French Algerian
regiments). And everywhere was the cry, 'The Boches have broken
through!'
"Orders were soon forthcoming, and we turned out, loaded magazines,
and marched off in the direction from which the Boches were supposed
to be coming. On our way up many dispatch riders passed, and each
one had the same comforting message--'The Canadians are holding
them.' We went no further, but received orders to dig ourselves in
across the road, and that in the event of the Boches getting as far
as this we were to hold them until the last man. Fortunately the
splendid Canadians had not only held their ground, but with terrible
losses had pushed the enemy two or three miles back; had, in fact,
practically regained all the ground lost.
"At nightfall we drew picks and shovels and made our way in the
direction of St. Julien. We got to the Yser Canal, and in crossing
the bridge met the batch of wounded coming back. This was not
heartening, but certainly gave all of us a keener desire to get to
grips. On the side of the banks of the Yser we were formed into
three waves and received instructions that we were going over in
extended order to drive the Huns from the position. But the
Canadians had done so grandly that we were not needed until the
following morning, when, in broad daylight, the remnants of the once
whole battalion, in single file, made their way along the hedges,
taking advantage of every possible cover, up to the village of St.
Jean.
"Much to our surprise we did not stop there, but went right through
and came within view of the Boches. Immediately we were under the
special care of their artillery, and within a short space of time
lost half of our numbers. We had to dig ourselves in with
entrenching tools, but after having got fairly decent cover, had to
move on again over to the left. We got right forward into the front
line, and found it held by a mere handful of the Canadians, who
received us with enthusiasm and were so heartened by our
reinforcements that they were more determined than ever to hang on
to the last.
"Meanwhile between the two lines our wounded lay unattended, those
who were able made their way, crawling and rolling through the
barbed wire, into our lines. At dusk half of the Canadians occupying
the trench made one rush after another to bring in their wounded and
helpless comrades. It was a wonderful sight. Again and again these
fellows went out, each time carrying back a wounded man. I was the
extreme end man of our regiment, and so was right next to the
Canadians themselves. Their officer, who was hit some time during
the evening, came back with his arm in a sling, refusing to go down
the line to the dressing station, as he preferred to stay with the
remnants of his company. He was a most encouraging chap, and it was
here that I noticed the difference between the companionship of
these officers and men and those of our own army. The ordinary
private would pull out his small packet of Woodbines and offer one
to his officer, who would accept it with the same feeling of
gratefulness as he would a cigar from a brother officer.
"We stayed with these Canadians for two days. For some reason or
other the transport had failed to bring up our rations, but we did
not suffer for lack of food, for whatever the Canadians had, we had
too. They shared with us all their rations and kept us for those two
days.
"At the end of that time, during which we had witnessed several
attacks on the right, we were relieved from those trenches and
marched back to the farm on the other side of the Canal. But it was
not for a rest; for every night we had to go up digging and
consolidating the trenches regained and digging communication
trenches.
"It was on one of these digging fatigues that my chum was killed. He
and I had been given a small sector to dig, and it was really a
fairly quiet night, as far as firing was concerned. We had dug down
a depth of about three feet and had secured ourselves against rifle
fire and were putting the final touches to our work, which we had
rightly viewed with pride and satisfaction, when the order came--'D
Company file out towards the left.' We were terribly disappointed
for we had worked all that evening on digging ourselves in here and
we knew that it meant a fresh start elsewhere. We were just
clambering out when there rang out one single shot from a sniper,
apparently lying in front of the German lines.
"We all got up with the exception of my chum. I did not for a minute
imagine he had been hit, but merely thought he was making sure that
the sniper had finished, so I touched him--and he half rolled
towards me. I lifted him up and said, 'Did you catch it?' All he
could do was to point to his chin. He was an awful sight. A dum-dum
or explosive bullet had caught his jawbone and had blown the left
lower jaw and part of the neck away. I realised at once that it was
hopeless, for it took four bandages to stop the spurting. One of our
fellows ran off for the stretcher-bearers. One of these came back,
but he could not stop the flow of blood at all, and the corporal
said, 'No good: it will all be over in a minute.' I could not
believe it at all--it did not seem possible to me that George with
whom I had spent every hour, every day in close companionship for so
many months past, was dying.
"The party went on and I was left alone, but I risked all chances of
court martial and stayed with my wounded friend. I couldn't leave
him until I was absolutely certain that he was past all aid. He did
not last very many minutes, and I knelt there with my arm round his
shoulders, hoping against hope that something could be done. He was
called to pay the supreme sacrifice of all. And with just one gasp
he died.
"I was in a terrible condition. My clothes were soaked in blood, my
hands all red, my mind numbed. Nothing could be done, so I went and
joined my company, but first made application to the sergeant-major
that I might help to bury my chum. This was granted, and as three
other men were killed that evening, a party of us were detailed to
make graves for them. I can see now those four graves in a square,
railed off by barbed wire, on the cross-roads between St. Jean and
St. Julien. On one corner stood an estaminet and trenches ran all
round. A chaplain was passing, and we had a service of a minute or
two. The time was about 2 o'clock on Saturday morning. We were only
able to dig down a couple of feet, and these graves must, I fear,
have suffered from the heavy shelling which followed, but I like to
think that my chum still rests there undisturbed.
"How I got back to the barn that night I do not know. I certainly
was not my natural self, and it was more a stagger than a march. It
was impossible to realise that I should see George no more. And on
the following day I had to face the still harder task of writing to
his parents and to the girl he had left behind."
To this, written by Sydney Baxter, I add nothing. Not to me has it
come to dig a shallow, shell-swept grave for my chum. What words,
then, have I?
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Chapter XIII One
Young Man Gets a “Blighty”
Sydney Baxter's Division was on the
left flank of the British attack at Gommecourt, which met with great
stubbornness on the part of the enemy, and resulted in heavy losses.
He writes:
"I was in charge of the 'Battle Police' that day, and we had to
accompany the bombers. We started over the top under heavy fire and
many were bowled over within a few minutes.
"Lanky of limb, I was soon through the barbed wire and came to the
first trench and jumped in. Some seven of us were there, and as
senior N.C.O. I led the way along the trench. One Hun came round the
corner, and he would have been dead but for his cry 'Kamerad blessé.'
I lowered my rifle, and, making sure he had no weapon, passed him to
the rear and led on. We had just connected up with our party on the
left when I felt a pressure of tons upon my head. My right eye was
sightless, with the other I saw my hand with one finger severed,
covered in blood. A great desire came over me to sink to the ground,
into peaceful oblivion, but the peril of such weakness came to my
mind, and with an effort I pulled myself together. I tore my helmet
from my head, for the concussion had rammed it tight down. The man
in front bandaged my head and eye. Blood was pouring into my mouth,
down my tunic.
"They made way for me, uttering cheery words, 'Stick it, Corporal,
you'll soon be in Blighty,' one said. Another, 'Best of luck, old
man.' I made my way slowly--not in pain, I was too numbed for that.
My officer gave me a pull at his whisky bottle, and further on our
stretcher-bearers bandaged my head and wiped as much blood as they
could from my face. I felt I could go no further, but a 'runner' who
was going to H.Q. led me back. I held on to his equipment, halting
for cover when a shell came near, and hurrying when able. I
eventually got to our First Aid Post. There I fainted away.
"I awoke next day just as I was being lifted on to the operating
table, and whilst under an anaesthetic my eye was removed. Although
I was not aware of this for some time afterwards I did not properly
come to until I was on the hospital train the following day bound
for the coast. I opened my eye as much as possible and recognised
two of my old chums, but conversation was impossible; I was too
weak. The next five days I spent at a hospital near Le Treport. My
mother was wired for, and the offending piece of shell was
abstracted by a magnet. It couldn't be done by knife, as it was too
near the brain."
Thus far Sydney Baxter tells his own story of the great day of his
life. I leave it as it stands, though I could add so much to it if I
would. Will you picture to yourself this sightless young man, with
torn head and shattered hand piteously struggling from those
shambles? Will you look at him--afterwards? It's worth while trying
to do so. You and I have got to see war before we can do justice
to the warrior.
The piece of shell which entered his head just above the right eye
opened up the frontal sinuses, exposing the brain. "It is
wonderful," wrote the doctor who attended him, "how these fellows
who have been fighting for us exhibit such a marvellous fortitude."
He had lost the end of his fourth finger and another has since been
entirely amputated.
To the amazement of all, Sydney Baxter, within a few hours of his
operation, asked for postcards. He wrote three--one to his mother,
one to someone else's sister, and one to his firm . . .
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Please note: to avoid opening the book out, with the
risk of damaging the spine, some of the pages were slightly raised on the
inner edge when being scanned, which has resulted in some blurring to the
text and a
shadow on the inside edge of the final images. Colour reproduction is shown
as accurately as possible but please be aware that some colours
are difficult to scan and may result in a slight variation from
the colour shown below to the actual colour.
In line with eBay guidelines on picture sizes, some of the illustrations may
be shown enlarged for greater detail and clarity.
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The scan below shows the curvature of the text
block and forward spine lean:
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This volume is inscribed on the front
pastedown by the Author, Reginald Davis:
"To Mr Mrs Miss Douch
with their neighbour "One Young
Man's" compliments. Reginald J. Davis.
16-VI-36"
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U.K. buyers:
To estimate the
“packed
weight” each book is first weighed and then
an additional amount of 150 grams is added to allow for the packaging
material (all
books are securely wrapped and posted in a cardboard book-mailer).
The weight of the book and packaging is then rounded up to the
nearest hundred grams to arrive at the postage figure. I make no charge for packaging materials and
do not seek to profit
from postage and packaging. Postage can be combined for multiple purchases. |
Packed weight of this item : approximately 500 grams
Postage and payment options to U.K. addresses: |
-
Details of the various postage options can be obtained by selecting
the “Postage and payments” option at the head of this
listing (above). -
Payment can be made by: debit card, credit
card (Visa or MasterCard, but not Amex), cheque (payable to
"G Miller", please), or PayPal. -
Please contact me with name,
address and payment details within seven days of the end of the auction;
otherwise I reserve the right to cancel the auction and re-list the item. -
Finally, this should be an
enjoyable experience for both the buyer and seller and I hope
you will find me very easy to deal with. If you have a question
or query about any aspect (postage, payment, delivery options
and so on), please do not hesitate to contact me.
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International
buyers:
To estimate the
“packed
weight” each book is first weighed and then
an additional amount of 150 grams is added to allow for the packaging
material (all
books are securely wrapped and posted in a cardboard book-mailer).
The weight of the book and packaging is then rounded up to the
nearest hundred grams to arrive at the shipping figure.
I make no charge for packaging materials and do not
seek to profit
from shipping and handling.
Shipping can
usually be combined for multiple purchases
(to a
maximum
of 5 kilograms in any one parcel with the exception of Canada, where
the limit is 2 kilograms). |
Packed weight of this item : approximately 500 grams
International Shipping options: |
Details of the postage options
to various countries (via Air Mail) can be obtained by selecting
the “Postage and payments” option at the head of this listing
(above) and then selecting your country of residence from the drop-down
list. For destinations not shown or other requirements, please contact me before buying.
Due to the
extreme length of time now taken for deliveries, surface mail is no longer
a viable option and I am unable to offer it even in the case of heavy items.
I am afraid that I cannot make any exceptions to this rule.
Payment options for international buyers: |
-
Payment can be made by: credit card (Visa
or MasterCard, but not Amex) or PayPal. I can also accept a cheque in GBP [British
Pounds Sterling] but only if drawn on a major British bank. -
Regretfully, due to extremely
high conversion charges, I CANNOT accept foreign currency : all payments
must be made in GBP [British Pounds Sterling]. This can be accomplished easily
using a credit card, which I am able to accept as I have a separate,
well-established business, or PayPal. -
Please contact me with your name and address and payment details within
seven days of the end of the auction; otherwise I reserve the right to
cancel the auction and re-list the item. -
Finally, this should be an enjoyable experience for
both the buyer and seller and I hope you will find me very easy to deal
with. If you have a question or query about any aspect (shipping,
payment, delivery options and so on), please do not hesitate to contact
me.
Prospective international
buyers should ensure that they are able to provide credit card details or
pay by PayPal within 7 days from the end of the auction (or inform me that
they will be sending a cheque in GBP drawn on a major British bank). Thank you.
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(please note that the
book shown is for illustrative purposes only and forms no part of this
auction)
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Book dimensions are given in
inches, to the nearest quarter-inch, in the format width x height.
Please
note that, to differentiate them from soft-covers and paperbacks, modern
hardbacks are still invariably described as being ‘cloth’ when they are, in
fact, predominantly bound in paper-covered boards pressed to resemble cloth. |
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Fine Books for Fine Minds |
I value your custom (and my
feedback rating) but I am also a bibliophile : I want books to arrive in the
same condition in which they were dispatched. For this reason, all books are
securely wrapped in tissue and a protective covering and are
then posted in a cardboard container. If any book is
significantly not as
described, I will offer a full refund. Unless the
size of the book precludes this, hardback books with a dust-jacket are
usually provided with a clear film protective cover, while
hardback books without a dust-jacket are usually provided with a rigid clear cover.
The Royal Mail, in my experience, offers an excellent service, but things
can occasionally go wrong.
However, I believe it is my responsibility to guarantee delivery.
If any book is lost or damaged in transit, I will offer a full refund.
Thank you for looking.
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Please also
view my other listings for
a range of interesting books
and feel free to contact me if you require any additional information
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