1914 (British Ace) by Griff Hosker

outside their tent smoking. I heard a sigh and then the lieutenant said, “Open fire!”
    The twenty odd rifles all barked at the same time.  The soldier I had targeted pitched forwards.  I then worked the bolt as fast as I could.  The magazine was soon empty.  As I reloaded it I saw that the Germans were advancing towards us.  The hedges were shredded by their bullets but they were firing blindly.  All that they could see was the smoke. I saw Jimmy fall backwards; a bullet hole made him look as though he had three eyes.  He was next to the lieutenant who looked shocked.
    “We have to pull back now! We have done enough!” He turned and ran to the horses in the other field.
    George snapped, “Hold fast! I’ll tell you when we go!” To be fair to the men none had followed our officer.  The Germans were now much more numerous but we were causing more casualties than they were.  The sound of our bugle, signalling the charge was a welcome one.  I saw the indecision on the German skirmish line as they glanced over their shoulders.
    “Keep pouring it into them!”
    The German bugle sounded and the skirmish line about faced and ran back towards the new threat.  I heard the deep rattle of a machine gun and I looked at George. He nodded, “Right lads, over the wall! Let’s help the captain and his squadron!”
    It was not easy getting through the hedges which had been our friend while the Germans had been firing at us.  I rolled over and crashed to the ground. I was up in an instant and I waved forwards my section. I wished that I had fitted my bayonet but that was still on Caesar’s saddle along with my sword.
    We ran fifty yards and then I held up my hand and shouted, “Halt and fire!” I placed five well aimed shots in the direction of the Germans.  I saw at least one man fall. “Forward.” As he moved towards the Germans I could see the horses of our cavalry ahead.  We would have to stop soon or risk running into our own men.  I was about to order a halt when a German ran from a tent and suddenly bayoneted Tiny in the back.  He fell with a scream. Doddy saw his brother and the German.  He emptied his magazine at point blank range into the Hun.  The German’s head disappeared.
    “Bastard!” He dropped to his knees and cradled his brother in his arms. Tiny opened his mouth to speak but all that came out was a trickle of blood. His eyes glazed over and we both knew that he was dead.  It had been a quick death.
    “Come on Doddy, we’ll see to him later.” The trooper nodded and, with a determined expression on his face, picked up his gun. “Hold the line here!”
    There was a clatter of machine gun fire and I saw horses and troopers crash to the ground.  I saw that the machine gun was a hundred yards away.
    “Sergeant Armstrong, I’m going after the machine gun.” George waved his acknowledgment.  I moved forward.  Doddy, Jack and Robbie followed me. I was about to order them to stay when I saw the determination on their faces. “Keep low.”
    I slung my rifle over my shoulder and took out the Luger.  This was where a grenade would have come in handy. The three men operating the machine gun were oblivious to our presence but their comrades were not. I saw a sergeant raise his rifle only to be shot by Robbie.  Doddy was like a man possessed.  I had never seen anyone fire as fast as he did.  Jack raised his gun to fire at the machine gunners but he was shot by three Germans before he could pull the trigger.  I shot two of them and Doddy smashed in the head of the third with his rifle.  I emptied my magazine at the machine gunners.  Two of them fell but they swung the barrel around in our direction as they died. I ran as fast as I could towards them.  Doddy and Robbie were right behind me.  I reasoned that even if the gunners got me my comrades would be able to finish them off.
    I threw myself bodily at the two remaining gunners and the gun. The Luger’s barrel collided with the face