Reference no: EM133291621

We had five nights of marching down to Loos. Our Company Commander, Captain Powell, called together the Companies and addressed us and he told us that there was a battle raging...We were going up to relieve them. I can still remember the cheers. We never thought what was in front of us... On the way up to the line, the Adjutant stopped me. He said, "The CO's got a message for you to take up." I can remember the words of that message even to this day. It was written on an old signal pad. It wasn't dated or signed, it just said, "The CO wishes the attack to be carried out with the bayonet in the true Northumbrian fashion." It was the first I heard that we were going into action. When I got to the trenches all the lads were standing with fixed bayonets and as I walked through the back they started to climb out of the trench, running as fast as the equipment would ever allow. They were just a mob! I was looking for Captain Powell to give him the message, and then I realized he was up there with the lads, so I followed on. The leading men would be about 100 yards from the German wire and till then not a shot had been fired. Suddenly all hell was let loose. Some men began to stumble and fall, machine-guns were firing from the front of us and enfilading from the left-side from some Germans. A lad in front of me went down, shot in the head, and I tripped and fell over him. To this day I don't feel any shame-I stayed where I was. I'll remember the sight until my dying day, the whole slope was full of prone figures. The Germans had suddenly stopped firing, just like they'd begun. Men started to rise to their feet, some stumbled and crawled any way to try to get back. Still the Germans never fired. Shortly afterwards I remember there was a report that the German General in charge of the area had said that his machine-gunners had refused to fire another shot. They were so filled with bitter remorse and guilt at the corpses at Loos that they refused to fire another shot. I do believe this. When I got back to the trench I landed in the same place where I'd left. One of the lads handed me a water bottle. We lay there and it was awful listening to the cries of the men on that field, some were screaming. Terrible! I'm afraid a lot were dead before the night. All this time I still had the message for Captain Powell. I didn't find him until afterwards. As a matter of fact, he was the only officer we had left in the Company, and I found him when we got back to Vermelles. I went up to him and I apologized and I told him I was sorry, I had a message for him. I gave him this message. He read it. He said, "It doesn't matter, Sonny, now." I could see tears running down his cheeks.

Recollections of Private Harry Fellowes, Northumberland Fusiliers

Question 1: Briefly, what happened? Why do you think Private Fellowes did what he did? Why didn't he feel any shame? Explain.

Question 2: Why did the German gunners stop firing? Explain.

Question 3: What do Private Fellowes' recollections tell us about common soldiers' expectations and reactions to combat in the Great War?

17 October 1914: After two weeks here and less than two months from enlistment we are actually going at last to the firing line. By the time you receive this we shall already perhaps have had our baptism of fire...When we lie on the ground, it has been wonderful to hear the steady pounding of the distant cannonade. But imagine how thrilling it will be tomorrow and the following days, marching toward the front with the noise of battle growing continually louder before us...You have no idea how beautiful it is to see the troops undulating along the road in front of one in columns of four as far as the eye can see with captains and lieutenants on horseback at the head of their companies...Tomorrow the real hardship and privations begin. But I go into action with the lightest of light hearts. The hard work and moments of frightful fatigue have not broken but hardened me and I am in excellent health and spirits. Do not worry, for the chances are small of not returning and I think you can count on seeing me at Fairlea next summer, for I shall certainly return after the war to see you all and recuperate. I am happy and full of excitement over the wonderful days that are ahead. It was such a comfort to receive your letter and know that you approved of my action. Be sure that I shall play the part well for I was never in better health nor felt my manhood more keenly...

Letter of Alan Seeger, 21, An American who joined the French Foreign Legion, Killed 3 July 1916

Question 4: How did Seeger feel about the prospect of war? Explain.

Question 5: What were his expectations for the war-for his own survival, the length of the war, etc.? Explain.

Question 6: Why do you think he was feeling his manhood keenly? What do you think he associated with manhood? Explain.