Flanders

Flanders France - WW I

From Ontario Veterinary College serving in WW I

Sues story is full of details, and I think that only those that were actually there, can judge if these details are correct.

“We came up her six weeks ago. I joined the Army but I lied and told them I was 17, but I am 15 and coming up 16. There is a lot of firing, but I have to advance with my mule and horse. One of the mules got shot, and he won’t get up. I have to bring ammunition to the front but I can’t get him up….I have to un-harness them but there is firing all around. Nobody helps me. I can’t manage. I just want to run away”.

Sue was extremely detailed. Almost like she was reporting directly from the trenches. She continued:

“I hide from my own Army and the Germans. I was tired and cold and I had nothing to eat. Then I walked away and I could see many wounded, but I ignored them. I kept walking but then I stopped and decided to go back.

I need to find the Corporal and I can’t find my Regiment. I went back to my mules. I just don’t want to die. Then I decided to try to un-harness the dead mule. I took the one horse and I tried hard, keeping my mind on them. I wish I could go back home. The fighting seemed to cease but I still cry.

The wheels on the right side have been damaged. Now Tommy comes up to me. He’s the Corporal. He can’t see that I have cried, and he didn’t say anything. I felt relieved. He told me to go back and I lost sight of Tommy. Then I un-harnessed the horse and I am back. I am alright but everything is chaos, and there are dead soldiers everywhere. I just want to eat and sleep. Now there are lights in the sky…and I get something to eat…”

Charlie was injured but he actually survived the Flanders. He was sent home 1917, started a family business and became a blacksmith. He had three children, and he died 1946.