“Eh, lads, what’s gunna happen if one of us gets shot?” said a novice
Silence surrounded the room. What WOULD they do if one of them was injured and there were no experienced soldiers present?
Before they went to sleep, they all made sure that their kit was clean and ready to save themselves from a pre-battle lecture from the remorseless corporals. The nerves of the soldiers had overwhelmed their personalities and began to act abnormally.
The night raced on.
Morning broke with sharpness and the sun rose quickly. The unbearable heat and humidity of the dorm, created by the force of the sunlight reflecting off the weak single-glazed windows, forced the callow soldiers to rise earlier than usual from their lengthy repose. A feeling of zest was present in the camp, perhaps some exaggerated, at the thought of the battle. There were no birds singing, with the battlefield in such a secluded location, but the peaceful environment made the soldiers hungry for blood.
The corporals marched in, expecting their recruits to be nervous and panic-stricken at the daunting prospect before them.
“Get up … its war today lads, ‘member” said Corporal Jones (Roger) sarcastically.
“Anyone with nerves?” said Jones.
“No, sir!” was the deafening reply from the camp.
“Really …?” Jones said, hoping for someone to pick on. He walked away, stoically hiding his delight at the atmosphere in the younger
Martin was fresh and lively and made tea for everyone. Battle was due to start at nine. They washed, then consumed their breakfast steadily and were ready for there last kit inspection.
“Perfect gentlemen.” said corporal Thompson (the Scouser)
“Sir!” said the brigade all at once, with confidence brimming.
Every man was prepared and psyched up for war against the arch enemy. The corporals gave them a final, but gentle, lecture.
“Now listen here lads, make sure y’ don’t mess this up and that y’ stay on field” said Jones “Now go out there and kick some German backsides, for your country!”
Both countries, England and Germany respectively, were eagerly awaiting the gunshot so that the battle could commence.
BANG.
Johnny had been shot in the forehead immediately by an extremely accurate shot from an enemy soldier. He released a cry of anguish and was in a state of severe distress. His fellow recruits halted their onslaught to attend the severe casualty.
“What do we do now, sir? Carry on fighting, or save Johnny” said Leon, a neophyte, to an elder recruit.
“I’ll attend to him, you carry on fighting and forget about Johnny” said Chris, an experienced Corporal.
“He won’t die, will he, sir? said Leon
“No” said Chris
“You’ll save him won’t you, sir” said Leon
“Yes, don’t worry, he’ll be fine. Now pee off you little brat!” said Chris, showing his ire at the young apprentice.
“OK, sir” Said Leon, scurrying back towards the core of the battle.
Leon resumed his fighting but was clearly short of full concentration. He could hardly pull the trigger, a feeling of nausea crept into him at the sight of Johnny injuries. He felt remorse and guilt at killing an enemy soldier, and consequently was relentlessly dragged off the field by the Sergeant Major.
“Martin Hopkins, Alex Brimson and Michael Trotter, all attend to our wounded soldier. This man with me does not want to fight for us. I declare this particular soldier a liability! You’re a bum! What are you?”
“A bum, sir” said Leon, embarrassingly.
Johnny’s injuries had become worse as the blood flow refused to halt and he was suffering from internal bleeding, tragically. The remaining soldiers’ concentration level was sub-standard and this was only the first hour of the battle. How would they cope?
Apart from Johnny, there were many other casualties to be concerned with and the Germans were pressing them back. The Germans were equipped with superior munitions, had less casualties, were more organised, were more accurate with their shooting, had more shotguns and their soldiers were more experienced and had fewer novices. The medical equipment possessed by Germany at the battle allowed them to help soldiers wounds heal very quickly. In contrast, the English were not organised, although they had great spirit. The media believed that their army did not have enough experienced soldiers, and thought that those who had travelled to the Far East, such as Japan and Sierra Leone, to fight were needed and questioned the army towards their absence.
By the end of the first day, the Germans had pressed the English back roughly two hundred metres. After the calamitous antics of the younger soldiers in the opening hours following the severe injuries inflicted on Johnny, they began to take responsibility and fought with great courage to save their country from the humiliation of an overwhelming first day deficit in terms of number of casualties.
The gunshot which ceased the first day of fighting was heard clearly by most soldiers. The odd shot was fired after, but both ‘countries’ retreated to their base camp.
The British soldiers were comprehensively vanquished after the first day of the gun battle.
The light of the morning had faded away and dark skies were ruling the sky. The younger camp was left by the corporals to discuss a plan for the next day and try and regain some territory on the Germans. Thoughts of death, inferiority and failure were worrying the soldiers. They felt like ants, nowhere to hide, unable to present a challenge and liable to death at any point, with the Germans exerting minimal effort and force to kill them. As the night dragged on with some reluctance to start a new day, the atmosphere of the room was now genuine silence. It was as the recruits were already holding there minute’s silence for the casualties.
The following morning the corporals marched in with fresh optimism of a British onslaught. But the soldiers were behaving like school children, showing their displeasure at getting up early and not willing to attend school. Breakfast was due to start at seven, and the soldiers were not even ready to eat. The fighting resumed in an hour’s time. Would they be ready for that?
