Clive Ward - Trench 31

Training had been cancelled due to the bad weather and the men lay in their leaky tents. There were men from every walk of life, bank clerks and teachers, factory workers and shop workers, all crammed together, some were sleeping, some writing home and others were just day dreaming of home. For many of these men it was their first time away from home and many of them quickly became homesick.

Bertram paused from reading his bible to listen to the heavy rain hitting the canvas.

‘I do wish this rain would stop,’ he said.

‘Maybe it’s time to think about building that ark, Bertie. Doesn’t it warn you in that book of yours?’ David joked.

‘That would be Genesis, chapter seven. The Lord said to Noah, ‘Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation. Take with you seven pairs of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and one pair of every kind of unclean animal, a male and his mate…’

‘Ok Bertram that’s enough. The only animals you get around here are rats and possibly plenty of ducks and fish, if this water gets any deeper,’ said David.

Archie was busy reading a recent letter from Charlotte and he looked on edge.

‘Are you ok Archie, you look a bit worried, everything good at home?’ David asked.

‘Yes, I’m fine, everybody is well and sends their love.’

But Archie wasn’t fine, he was far from it. He reread the contents of the letter hoping he had misread it.

My Dearest Archie,

I hope this letter finds you in good health. Archie, I have something to tell you, I’m hoping you react to what I’m going to say with calmness. I am with child Archie. The only person I’ve told so far is mother and now you.

I don’t know whether to be happy or sad at this news. I only found out the other day. What is my father going to say, what is David going to say or more importantly what are you going to say?

Archie read on, holding the locket he wore around his neck, his mind full of mixed emotions. He felt both happy and sad by the sudden news. He wished he could be with her. Archie was fearful of the consequences to come so he had to pick the right time to tell Charlotte’s brother, David. He’s going to kill me, he thought.

There was no leave that Christmas, but the men were given the day off on Christmas day. Christmas dinner was good, under the circumstances, and there was a plentiful supply of rum and beer for the men to drown their sorrow at not being able to go home and be amongst their family, friends and loved ones.

Early in the New Year their living conditions improved. Huts were slowly erected for the men, while the officers still had to battle with the elements, remaining under canvas in a nearby pine wood.

By February, the Royal Engineers had arrived and set about digging the new ranges. At last, a number of short rifles arrived and the men got the chance to fire musketry for the first time. Training was an immense challenge in the First World War. Time, space, kit and experienced instructors were all in short supply during the onset of the war.

One evening, after visiting the new rifle ranges, Archie and Bertram were busy cleaning their rifles in their hut and Archie decided to tell Bertram about Charlotte’s pregnancy. David was on another range detail and hadn’t arrived back yet. Bertie looked shocked at first when Archie told him the news, but then he started to laugh.

‘It’s not funny Bertie,’ Archie said.

‘Not funny for you but funny for me. What were you thinking Archie? Obviously you weren’t thinking at all. David won’t be happy you know, and as far as Mr Manning is concerned, well, you’ll be better off taking your chances in France rather than go home right now.’

‘Thanks, I was hoping for support and some sensible advice Bertie.’

‘Advice… my advice is to start running Archie and don’t stop.’

‘I was thinking of telling the Platoon Commander.’

‘Platoon Commander, what’s he going to do? He’s even younger than you,’ replied Bertram.

The young officers had to be taught how to command and take care of the men under their control. The platoon commanders were mostly junior officers or second lieutenants, some of whom were just teenagers, who couldn’t even take care of themselves. Each officer was in command of a platoon of around thirty men, many of whom were from tougher and rougher backgrounds than the officers in charge. If a young officer didn’t get it right the men soon let them know about it.

‘If you want my advice,’ said Bertie ‘Firstly, I wouldn’t tell David just yet, pick your moment. He’ll be back from the ranges shortly, with his rifle still in his possession, so that would be bad timing. Secondly, do you love the girl?’

‘Yes, I do, dearly,’ said Archie earnestly.

‘Then you need to wed the girl as soon as possible. Write to her father and ask him if you can marry his daughter, he most probably knows about it by now and is expecting you to do exactly that with all haste. Once her father knows it won’t be long before David gets wind of it. Leave David to me. I’ll tell him tonight,’ said Bertie.

That evening, after tea, they all lay on their beds relaxing. Archie looked like a man who was about to have all his teeth pulled out. He knew what was coming, so he left the billet to breathe some fresh air. As soon as Archie went outside, Bertram got off his own bed and sat down on the end of David’s. David lowered his week-old newspaper and looked inquisitively at Bertram before lifting his newspaper up to his face again.

‘What is it Bertie? I know you’re dying to tell me something, it’s written all over your ugly face, come on man, spit it out.’

After a long pause, Bertram drew a deep breath and gave David the news.

‘It’s your sister Charlotte.’

‘What about Charlotte?’

‘She’s pregnant.’

David didn’t react immediately but his mind quickly worked out the scenario.

‘Where is he?’

‘Calm down David.’

‘Where is he! I’m going to fucking kill him. So, he didn’t have the balls to tell me himself. Well he certainly won’t have any balls left when I’ve finished with him!’

‘Calm down David, it’s not the end of the world. You’re going to be an Uncle,’ Bertram said, which made David even angrier.

David began walking up and down the billet and his anger towards Archie intensified with every step he took.

‘I warned him! What did I say?! Now look what’s gone and happened! He just couldn’t keep it in his bloody trousers could he! Bloody hell, what an embarrassing mess. God knows what my father will say! Maybe I should just strangle him and tell everyone he copped for it in France.’

‘I suppose that’s a plan’ said Bertram.

David pushed Bertram out of his way and headed for the latrines. Bertram hurried after him, along with half of the platoon who were eager to witness what the outcome was going to be.

‘Come on out Archie, I know you’re in there! Come out now or I’ll be knocking that door down!’ shouted David as he hammered on the latrine door with his fist.

Archie opened the door to face his punishment, smiling as though it wasn’t a big deal, trying to play down the situation.

‘You wanted to speak to me David?’

He closed his eyes and waited for the impact of David’s fist. The Platoon looked on and some of the men laughed at Archie’s predicament. David turned to face them, his anger clearly evident.

‘What are you all staring at, fuck off back to your hut, there’s nothing to see here, go on, move it!’

The Platoon members retreated slowly, not wanting David to turn on them in his angry state.