Die Hard, Aby! by David Lister

Author:David Lister
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 9781783033669
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2013-05-22T04:00:00+00:00

There was however, some time to spare, and it seems Aby’s thoughts turned to the possibility of leave and a spell at home for the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. Writing on 4 September, he said:

I might be home for the Jewish holidays … I have got a paper for the Chaplain to show the Captain.

Aby, as a private soldier, had no idea that circumstances would rob him of any chance of leave or that his battalion was shortly to play a part in a battle that was to cost the lives of 60,000 British soldiers.

On Tuesday, 7 September 1915 the time came round once again to take over the trenches from the 9th Royal Fusiliers, but before that the whole Battalion was to be inspected by General Sir H.C.J. Plumer, KCB. He was pleased with what he saw and told the 11th that every man held himself well and behaved like a soldier and that they were very good at rifle movements. Plumer was a full general and commanded the Second Army at the time, and with his praises fresh in their ears, it may have bolstered their morale a little and helped them to get through the first night. There was heavy sniping from the enemy around midnight. The following day the Battalion suffered two casualties, one killed.

On Thursday, 9 September some of Aby’s B Company colleagues went out on a bombing raid. There were two B Company patrols, one under the lead of Sergeant Crocker and the other led by Corporal Pound. Both attacked and bombed German working parties.

On Sunday, 12 September, Aby, still in the trenches, wrote home.

Yes, dear Mother, it is a very long time since we have seen each other. For the New Year I think you will go to the Synagogue and pray for me to see you very soon.

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