The Somme: The Epic Battle in the Soldiers' own Words and Photographs by Van Emden Richard

Author:Van Emden, Richard
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: HISTORY / Military / World War I
ISBN: 9781473855229
Publisher: Pen and Sword
Published: 2016-03-30T16:00:00+00:00

Sergeant Arthur Perriman, 11th South Wales Borderers

The Germans had done themselves well. Well constructed timber-lined dugouts had been constructed in Caterpillar Wood. Those of the officers had excellent bunks, tables and chairs. There were allotments where seasonable vegetables were growing. The attack had been arranged for Zero hour – 7.00 am but was changed to 8.00 pm. Rations for the day were issued. For fifty-two of us I was allocated 1½ loaves of bread, a piece of boiled bacon weighting about 16 ozs after the Somme mud had been removed, a small quantity of biscuits, some currants and sultanas, and a petrol tin of tea. As I displayed the rations which would not be the ‘last supper’ but the ‘last breakfast’ for some of us I reminded my lads of the parable of the ‘loaves and fishes’, adding that as I had not the miraculous powers of Our Lord Jesus Christ, section commanders should toss up, winner taking the lot. At this, one of the lads said, ‘Say, Sarge, the buggers do not intend us to die on a full stomach, do they?’ There followed an issue of rum to those who wanted it. Bombardment from both sides was terrific. The Germans sent over a quantity of tear gas shells necessitating putting on goggles to protect the eyes. We were now awaiting orders to advance.

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