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 Unknown
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page 18 of 83 (21%)
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are all cooked in turn in these, so if the orderlies don't
wash them clean at dinner time we have greasy, stewy tea. "I am getting a bit used to the marching, especially when there is anyone singing. The favourites are 'John Peel,' 'Cock Robin,' 'Oh, who will o'er the downs so free?' 'John Brown's Body,' 'Hearts of Oak,' and 'Annie Laurie.' We all have little books of Camp Songs, and we learn them at night; it makes all the difference to the marching. One of the songs is:-- "Oh, Mother is the leader of society, and You can see her name is in the papers every day. She was presented at the court For fighting Mrs. Short Down our way. "Not an exactly edifying song, but it goes with a swing. I can hardly keep my eyes open as I write this." On the whole and considering everything--a wide phrase covering many things unspoken--Sydney Baxter enjoyed his camp life, but Christmas was certainly a hardship. He writes: _Christmas Day, 1914._ "All day yesterday I was on fatigue work, and did not finish until 7.30 to 8. We started the morning by building a hedge with bushes gathered from the Heath, and then we unloaded |
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