T H E C O V E N A N T E R
go up to it without loss of time. And, my Watson is up with a clean pair of boots
goodness, it was necessary this morning, (as I was bogged and wading much of the
for I never saw such chaos; no one doing morning) and rations, waiting for this to
anything, except enjoying the situation
go back with him, so I’ll sleep now and tell
and being tied up into knots. No idea of
you more tomorrow, and answer your very
what position to hold, and how to hold it;
welcome letter.
most of them doing absolutely nothing. Yet
Zonnebeke Redout and Ypres-Roulers
the Bosch supposed to be going to counter-
Railway is the address of my people tonight
attack at any moment. Ground quite
in case their whereabouts interest you.
chaotic and churned into quagmire much
Heaps of love, Dearest Beloved, to you and
of it, so it was not an idle four to five hours
the Babies.
I spent, I can assure you, my Sweet.
This was the last letter which Maxwell
The men (and officers) were pretty
wrote. On the next day he was killed, when
well done after an all-night march into
out reconnoitring in No Man’s Land. The
position and the long stretch on their
nerves afterwards till they go over. They
following letter from his orderly tells the
face what music there is, and very nasty
sad story.
it is in the attack; but afterwards, when
it is over, and, like children, they think
27th brigade, October 5th, 1917
the game is finished, shells perturb them,
Dear Madam
and the new officer, as a whole, has no
I was very glad to hear from you. I will
sort of control or hold over them; often
try and tell you about the fateful 21st,
not of himself. But, of course, all this is
when I lost my beloved General. There
not curious; it is absolutely inevitable, for
was Major Ross and myself along with
you can’t learn these things in months;
him. We went up to the front line to see
they become instinct only by years of
if everything was all right, and carried on
business experience and learning. The only
down the line of our brigade front. We
surprising thing is the tosh that is written
went out into ‘No Man’s Land,’ as the
about our magnificently trained Army,
General wanted to have a good look round.
when one knows its training is surface deep
We were from eighty to one hundred yards
at best, and not always that. Gallant fellows
in front of our front line. A captain of the
they are, and give them a straightforward
Scottish Rifles came along with us to this
task and they will do it to the best of their ‘out-post.’ The General wanted to have a
power. But ask them more, and they fail machine-gun posted at this particular part.
you, unless you have learnt by experience I was about five yards in front watching for
never to believe that anything you have any movement in shell-holes. I was lying
taught them will, or can, stay with them flat with my rifle ready to shoot. The first
in any real emergency, and so take steps to bullet that was fired by the Huns went
remedy the limitation.
right into the ground below my left elbow.
It is unpopular with higher authority,
I shouted to the General to get down, as he
of course, this streaking forward, because
was standing up at the time, and he did so.
I am not in position to send them pretty
He sat for about two minutes, then he got
messages of victory all the time. But that I
up again to show what he was saying to this
don’t mind one little bit, because I like to
captain, and he was just opening his mouth
hold on to anything I have got and not
to speak when he got shot. I caught him
lose it as in probably seventy percent of
as he was falling, and jumped into a shell-
cases it is, when there is no one to guide
hole with him. I held his head against my
the ignorant at the crucial time, so that
breast till all was over. Madam, I cried till
Bosch walks up and deprives them of their
my heart was liking to burst. If I could only
hardly earned gains. He did not, however,
attempt to dispute our gains while I was
see you I could tell you something about
down there, and glad I was, as I wanted to
the General. He was a king among men and
be through with the chaos before that.
loved by everyone; in fact, Madam, next to
He is said to be counter-attacking part of
yourself, I miss him more than any one, for
my line, but from my perch I can only see
I would have done anything for him.
our artillery slating where he would have
Perhaps I speak better than any one of
to come over, but no sign of a Bosch, and
his personal bravery, for I was his personal
I don’t believe he’s there. Wish he were,
orderly in all fighting the brigade did.
now we should be ready for him. Further
I can say no more just now, but if God
to right, however, he is supposed to be
spares me, I will come and see you some day.
attacking the Australians, my neighbours,
I am,
who I dare say will give him all he wants.
Your faithful servant,
Now for a fairly beastly night - about
(Signed) A. Laird, L/Corporal.
seven or eight of us in a nine by six hole!
and all could do with a little sleep.
24
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