Laborers'international Un of N America Local
169 570 Reactor Way,
Reno, NV 89502 (775) 856-0169
http://www.diggerhistory.info/
pages-asstd/hell_babes.htm
I got into the crush that was buying tea at a
stall run by some French ladies.
Got scalded but got my tea.
Then we were packed 30 deep into a horsebox
and started enroute to god knows where.
On the way we passed through Rouen, Boulogne,
St Vines and many other places that I cannot recall
to mind at present. That night I slept nice and comfy
on an entrenching tool with George Laurie's foot
in my mouth. (He was later KIA) We lived very well
on bully beef and biscuits, tea and water,
especially water. The sanitary arrangements were
up to mud. We got an issue of emergency rations.
Arrived at Bailleul. We, that is Mahoney R and I got
cut off for fatigues. They hooked us up to a Lewis
gun limber and made us pull like any other donkey.
I went in and talked like buggery on how after having
a few wines I was seized with cramps. And I told such
a good tale that he let me off with a reprimand and a
lecture on how much he thought of the Bombing Platoon
and how it behoved us all especially the NCO's
to uphold its reputation.
These Places are the first we have seen that have borne
the brunt of war. They are blown to pieces, especially
prominent objects like Churches. No doubt the Hun owes
civilisation a long and elaborate apology. The buildings
and things of historical interest he has destroyed
around here alone are beyond count.
One day while the boys were cleaning bombs, someone
let the striker down on the cap and only for the
promptitude of Blue Tongue (No.4) there would have
been a serious.
I just want to mention some of the women who have come
into the limelight as far as we are concerned.
Firstly there is Black Alice. The Divinity.
Lucy of the Golden Plume. Fatty of the Souvenirs.
Ginger. Steinwick Alice. And last but not least.
Ellen No Compree.
Sorrensen was out with a Patrol of the 44th Scouts near
the Hun wire and the ground was covered with frost:
extremely hard to get along with out noise.
The Hun most have got wind of them as he put a couple
of belt into them killing the Corporal and wounding
the Sergeant. Sorrensen carried the wounded man
all the way back to our trenches and then the dirty
rotters that were out with him denied it so
Poor old Sorry didn't get a mention.
That was apparently the signal gun for just as it
came to earth the air became filled with devils.
Devils large. Devils small and in hundreds:
each had a different moan and each was more
blood curdling than the one before.
They dived into Fritz's trenches kicking up their heels
as they went. Ending up in a nerve wracking roar and
spinning duckboards, earth and anything that offered
resistance skywards.
Duggie Haig became possessed of a burning desire
to behold the 11th Brigade in full panoply of war.
and of course the old buggar had his way.
As I had no overcoat it meant I had to grin
and bear it. We plodded through the mud and finally
finished the 8 miles and got inspected by that
bug whiskered old rumper.
Just before stand down we left our Job early and
I was making home when I was halted by the sentry
and asked the Password. "Dalby" says I thinking
of the one from the previous night.
"Dalby be buggared " he said "it's Roma".
I am an unlucky poor bugger. I was swinging the
lead for all it was worth and to get out of a night
in the trenches I volunteered for a work party:
and found on reporting to Lt. ? that it was a patrol
that was wanted. So I fell in for it.
Got out safely and got paid that evening.
I pulled out 70 francs and spent the major portion
of it that night, as it was Robin's birthday.
Saw Juliet, Divinity and all that crowd.
There was a 5 franc mistake between Divinity and I
so that raised unpleasantness with the result that
a man doesn't feel like going in there again.
The trenches are up to mud. They are falling to pieces
with senile decay. Haven't had any mail for ages.
Don't know why.
The Revolution in Russia is in full blast
and things are a bit mixed. Bapaume is about to fall.
There is likely to be a re-election in England.
The 44th raided and got cut to pieces. That is about all
the news I can think of only that the 17th of Eirland
was the only night I went to bed without booze.
Today I close this old book.
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8. WWW Virtual Library Labour History:
United States With some material on the
original English Diggers (1649-50)
. ... the Socialist Labor Party, the Socialist Party,
the Communist Party, the Communist ...
www.iisg.nl/~w3vl/unitedstates.html
[Found on Google, MSN Search]
============================================
5. True Levellers...
Therefore once more, Let Israel go Free,
that the poor may labour the Waste land,
and such the Brests of their ...
Home page located at: http://www.diggers.org.
www.diggers.org/diggers/tlsa.htm
[Found on Google, MSN Search]
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