Our Despatches from the Front (No. 147).
Page 17
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Experience of an M.T. Driver Under Shell Fire.
A DAY UP 'THE LINE WITH A MOTOR LORRY.
(Continued from Page 400.)
As the top of the ridge is gained, it becomes apparent. that the Germans are on the opposite slopes, and the lorry is plainly visible, wending its way towards our lines. Naturally it is the intention of Fritz to stop its progress and blow it up if possible. They had a very good try, but thanks to their inferior gunnery, luckily for us, they absolutely failed.
Now the shells come over galore ; one drops on the road just ahead, one behind, then one falls away to the left, another to the right, till it seenard as though the lorry was within a circle of shell fire. It is of no use to rush,along, the "road" does not allow it ; the lorry still crawls onward, swaying and groaning, as it dips in one shell hole after another. Who said the M.T. was a soft job? No. dug-outs for the drivers, simply trusting to good luck. At last the dump in the hollow is reached, and out from the bowels of the earth come the unloading party. Never was the work done so quickly. Of eourse,, the enemy knows where the lorry is (they had possession of the road only a short time back), and then crash !! a shell strikes the, hank on the near side. A few yards .further and it would have been a direct hit. The two drivers dart to the 'if side Of the lorry like greased ligh icing, knowing full well what is flying
about. Mud and stones, €i.nd bits of shell are hurtling in all directions, hut by standing bolt upright, good protection is afforded, though one of the men receives a lamp of earth
slap in the ear. 'As for myself, a piece of shell, 8 ins, long, dropped right in front of my nose. It seems strange that although M.T. drivers are provided with steel helmets they seldom use them. The lorry is ,emptied, the engine, started, but the problem now is how to turn back. You cannot proceed forward, for the " road " disappears over the old battlefield, it
is too narrow to allow the ear to turn about, so the only course that remains is to reverse back till an opening be found to make the neces. sary turn,
Back she goes, one driver walking in front of the bonnet, directing his mate, in order to get safely over various shell holes and treacherous mud. We again appear in view of the German. artillery, and they still endeavour to secure a direct hit. Shells are falling around, many too close to be pleasant, but eventually, in a little over a kilometee,a rough track on the left is reached. Here the lorry is reversed, and after many manceuvres, she faces home.
Good progress is now made, when suddenly several deafening reports are heard to the left. To our great relief it is the British guns replying to the strafing the Germans had just given us, though at first we think we are in for a further bomImedment. Eventually we approach our starting plat* at M— and although we should report tilp the S.-M. as to the due delivery of the load, yet it may also mean another journey there, so we carry on, and in due course arrive back to the park.
Here the tank is filled and report given as follows :—" Lorry 12345, — miles empty, — miles loaded, one journey.'