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Stevie
Mackay
It is March 1915, John is a British soldier who has
been fighting for the British Empire for almost 6 months now and things
are not living up to his expectations. He volunteered for the army on the
21st of August 1914 and after a month of training was shipped
out. He is writing in his diary.
Day
179: It’s almost been 6
months since I was shipped out here, that’s 3 months after the war
should have ended. Today has been no more exciting that any of the rest. I
was on fatigue duty. Captain Cox ordered me to clear out the waste and
Frank had to replace the barbwire. I really don’t know which is worse.
All us Pals’ pride ourselves on our hygiene but it’s really starting
to stink and the trench is almost full of waste. I think maybe its time to
fill this trench in and dig another…
Day
182: I hate these stupid
lice I’m covered in. All they do is bother me. They suck my blood then
leave me scratching for hours on end. I’m even starting to get boils.
Other than these stupid Lice Life is a bore. I don’t understand why I
haven’t gone insane. It’s nice to spend time with my pals’ but this
is too much. I think I really would go insane without them. I want to go
home…
Day
183: Food was nice today.
I added a piece of horse meat to my barkers and bung. The lads showed me a
flyer that’s going round, “LICE make great pets, there very loyal.
Once you’ve got them you’ll never be without.” I’d prefer to be
without them. Still only 1 day before we get of the front line and maybe
then I can have a wash…
Day
184: Today’s the day
I’m supposed to tell you about my very enjoyable wash that I never
wanted to end but I can’t. Today we had to go over the top. I think
I’m becoming deaf with all this firing. I’m even starting to get
trench foot. It’s not my fault I’m adding the whale oil every day…
The Stupid Generals in their fancy clothes and fancy homes don’t have
any idea want its like down here. If they only spend one stupid day down
here and they still feel the same than they can go over the top. The
Germans are firing at us none stop even when we’re firing a round of
preparation for battle. I’m not looking forward to this. Look at all
these sleeping men around me. Only ¼ at the very best will return. I
really ought to…
Day
186:
They didn’t train us for any of the things that are happening out
here. They’re doing the same stupid plan over and over again, that might
I add doesn’t work, you’d think they’d get it right once in a while.
They forgot to cut and mark the barbwire and our own men where firing at
us. I don’t know what is worse, the fighting or the Fatigue. I really
want to cop a blighty. Maybe I should just shoot myself that way if I
don’t die I get to go home. NO! stop thinking like that, I can’t do
that to my fellow soldiers can I, or at least the ones that are left.
We’re under shelter for the night but tomorrow everything starts all
over again…
Day
187: This is all such a
waste of time. I don’t know how any of us are going to get back alive
anymore, they’re nearly all of them are dead already. Frank died to day
and I couldn’t even do anything to save him. They’ve invented this
sort of,… I don’t know. It’s a yellowy-green cloud of something plus
they where shooting continues rounds bullets at us while we where in
agony. I can still feel it inside my lungs I can hardly breathe…
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