Joe Callahan - Memoires of an Agent

Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2008 7:13 pm Post subject: Joe Callahan - Memoires of an Agent · Quote · Edit


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The shell exploded just above the lip of the trench that Private Joe Callahan and his platoon were sheltering in. Instinctively they ducked, though if the shell had detonated any closer it wouldn’t have made any difference.
Sergeant Kawaloski pulled the trench periscope over and peered through it across the no-mans land that separated the allied trenches from the German ones. “No movement, looks like the Huns gonna be content to lob some fireworks our way for the moment.” The sarge rested the ‘scope on the rough wooden slats next to him and pulled a half smoked cigarette out from his battered pack “May as well get some rest, boys.” He said as he struck a match “’Till the Lieutenant gets back we ain’t going anywhere”

“Jonny, Kid, go run a check down to the 3rd. Make sure no Jerrys are slipping over.” The sarge waved a hand towards Joe and another man “While yer down there see if Knox has any of that hooch he gets off the locals”
As Joe and Jonny set off down the trench Joe muttered “I’m not a kid”
“Yeah, yeah. You’re 18 and I’m a 4 star General” the Sarge snapped back “Now git”

Half an hour later they were returning up the trench, a crate of cheap beer carried between them. Suddenly a volley of shots rang out and then they heard shouting and screams from up ahead. Looking at each other they dropped the crate and ran forward swinging their rifles off their backs.

As they rounded the corner into the main area of the trench they saw a scene from their worst nightmares. German troops had pressed across the no-mans land unnoticed and were attacking the trench. Dozens of members of 2nd platoon were dead or badly wounded already and the rest were engaged in close, vicious hand to hand combat. Jonny shouted and raced into the trench stabbing the nearest enemy in the back with his bayonet. Joe stood transfixed for a moment before he raised his rifle and fired at the wave of Germans about to jump into the trench.

He only got a few shots off before he was slammed to the ground and felt an intense pain burning in his side. An enemy soldier had jumped down from the trench parapet on top of him sending both sprawling. Joe scrabbled for his rifle and slammed the butt of it into the Germans face knocking him backwards. Unable in the close confines to turn the rifle round and use the bayonet he simply continued to pound the rear into the Germans face repeatedly. The German grappled him and they rolled in the mud and stagnant water at the bottom of the trench until Joe managed to get the barrel of his rifle under the mans throat and pressed it in as he struggled beneath Joe. Gradually the mans struggles lessened and he went limp, his lips beginning to turn blue.
Pulling the gun free Joe turned to the rest of the trench and with shaking hands charged into the nearest group of fighters. Stabbing with the bayonet, pulling it clear and stabbing again. Over and over, just like against the dummies in training.

Joe didn’t recall the rest of the fight. When he came to his sense he was slumped clutching his rifle tightly and staring at the body of the German who had attacked him. The mans face was a mess but all Joe could focus on was the trickle of blood which escaped his mouth and ran down his cheek to pool against a locket the man had been wearing. The locket had been broken open during the fight and showed a picture of a smiling young woman with flowers in her hair. A picture which was rapidly disappearing under the bright red blood.
A shadow fell over Joe as he stood there. He looked up to the sergeant standing over him with a couple of folding shovels. “Come on, Joe, we still got work to do”
Joe cracked a faint smile “Not calling me ‘Kid’ no more, Sarge?” his voice was trembling as he spoke.
Sergeant Kawaloski shook his head “You ‘aint a kid anymore, Joe.” His eyes flicked over to the dead German “Not anymore”.

Excerpt from Journal, Private J Callahan. 1917-1919

13th July 1918

Pretty quiet at the moment. Germans building up to something but it can't be major in our section. Most of the boys have been pulled back to the second line, grabbing some R&R before we go over the top again.
Lts. jumpy for some reason. Wonder if he's finally come down with Shell Shock. Sarge is busting our ass over making sure we keep a full watch, pretty hard with so many sent back.
Got to finish, Sarge is yelling for us again.


14th July

Dunno what command are planning. They've pulled about half the guys out of the front line. Only a couple of squads holding our section of the line now. Word is their going to abandon the line and build it up on the second..
Heck, why don't we just get some of those Brit tanks and just trundle 'em over. That'd break the Krauts and then it's just mopping up the wrekage. That's be giving the brass some brains though.


15th July

Still nothing. I can cope with this type of battle. Still got to keep your head down but no leaving the trenches.
Germans lobbing a few 'crackers our way. Stop us from snoozing I guess.


18th July.

Sacrifice Line. That's what the bloody brass called it. Stuck out by the Marne, half our boys pulled back for the counter blow and they knew they were coming. Artillery hit em on the way in but the French legged it when the Germans reached their trenches. We only had a couple of min. to get the guns set up when their artillery finished trying to pound us 6ft under.
We blasted the trenches on the left early on to stop em being used to hit us in the side. had to pull the guns off the front to keep pinned at the side.
Lt. took a group of us out on the right and we caused a mess to them that side. Weren't expecting us after they took the trenches I reckon. Lt. got hit not long after that, they've got him at a hospital somewhere in the back at the moment.
Sarge kept us together overnight. He's still going now, can't have had mroe than 2 hours kip since the attack began.
Anyway, they finally forced then hun back yesterday. We got pulled off the line ourselves and sent to the rear while they try and patch up what remains of the 3rd.
Not many of us intact now, word is that we're to be sent to Fort st George or whatever it's called. Reshuffle us into new units before they throw us back on the line.
God, the Sarge is bawling for us to fall in again...

Drill Sergeant Ronald Baker
Camp Shelby
Mississippi
US
30th August 1918


Hi Ron,

Been a few weeks since you got pulled. It's been pretty hectic over here since the Marne. Can't say much cause of the censors but we've beaten the Hun back a fair distance. Been at it pretty much since we got thrown back in the trenches.
I've managed to dodge all the bullets so far but most of my squad are new kids now. Sarge has me keeping an eye on some of 'em. They're pretty raw, if they don't learn to keep their heads down when making a run they'll be getting a transfer to Lt. Charon's unit.
Speaking of Lt.'s we got a new one. Lt. Ward never came back after you got your holiday to the training camp. Word is the docs had to chop his leg. Pretty harsh but them's the breaks. Least he'll get a chevron for it.
The new one's almost as bad as the kids. Insists on wearing that cap instead of a helmet. Sarge almost blew a gasket over that one. They had it out in the dugout, but boy did their voices carry. Sarge lost that one, Lt. pulled rank. I give him 2 weeks before he's either reporting to St pete or wearing the Brodie.

Well I'll be seeing you on the other side one way or another. Train 'em hard, Ron, I don't want to be running your gig in the trenches.

Joe