Mark 4 Morrel Barrel
Banned
Name:Aidan Byrne
Location:European Western Front
Date:April 8th 1916
Location:European Western Front
Date:April 8th 1916
“Here they come boys give them hell!” A moment later up and down the British line muzzle flashes could be seen. A few unlucky Germans fell, others dove for cover. Aidan Byrne looked out from little ditch that he had dug. He was part of an Irish Volunteer regiment from Dublin. Ever since the Irish had rose up in the Great War many officers from England or Scotland had looked down at Irish soldiers. They had to fight twice as hard for half the respect. He didn't like that,it made him pissed, it made him want to kill Germans.
He pulled back the bolt and fired again, this time his bullet hit the mark and a German soldier fell silently clutching his chest. Farther down the line a machine gun started to spit out bullets. Many considered the Vickers superior to the Maxim and Aidan was inclined to agree.
“How is 2nd company holding up?” Private Aidan Byrne asked his sergeant.
The Sergeant reloaded his Lee Enfield before replying. “The Belgian feckers are pushing them hard on our left. At least there are more more Belgians trying to take Saint-Omer than there are Germans. Or we would not be doing so well. Ay?”
He pulled back the bolt and fired again, this time his bullet hit the mark and a German soldier fell silently clutching his chest. Farther down the line a machine gun started to spit out bullets. Many considered the Vickers superior to the Maxim and Aidan was inclined to agree.
“How is 2nd company holding up?” Private Aidan Byrne asked his sergeant.
The Sergeant reloaded his Lee Enfield before replying. “The Belgian feckers are pushing them hard on our left. At least there are more more Belgians trying to take Saint-Omer than there are Germans. Or we would not be doing so well. Ay?”
“Got to wonder if the Germans say the same thing about us?” Aidan said thinking out loud.
“Of course,” Sergeant Boyd said smiling, “of course where the Germans and the tommies are the Belgians.” Aidan grinned. He looked for a target and saw a Belgian running forward. Aidan fired grazing the man's arm. A bullet hit the dirt in front of Aidan causing him to duck back down into his little ditch. He saw a private down the line fall dead. They continued to stay and fight, taking more and more casualties. Eventually the Belgians started to pressure their left flank enough for the commanding officer to order a slow and fighting retreat.
Machine Guns provided suppressing fire as did artillery. They fell back to a small French village. They were about two dozen miles outside of the French City of Saint-Omer, the last great obstacle for the Portland Alliance until the major port cities. Including Calais. His squad took shelter in a ditch as machine gunners set up their gun in the window of a building directly behind Aidan and his squad. After a few moments the Belgians got with in range.
“Of course,” Sergeant Boyd said smiling, “of course where the Germans and the tommies are the Belgians.” Aidan grinned. He looked for a target and saw a Belgian running forward. Aidan fired grazing the man's arm. A bullet hit the dirt in front of Aidan causing him to duck back down into his little ditch. He saw a private down the line fall dead. They continued to stay and fight, taking more and more casualties. Eventually the Belgians started to pressure their left flank enough for the commanding officer to order a slow and fighting retreat.
Machine Guns provided suppressing fire as did artillery. They fell back to a small French village. They were about two dozen miles outside of the French City of Saint-Omer, the last great obstacle for the Portland Alliance until the major port cities. Including Calais. His squad took shelter in a ditch as machine gunners set up their gun in the window of a building directly behind Aidan and his squad. After a few moments the Belgians got with in range.
“Wait a few seconds.” A leftenant said. A few seconds passed as the Belgians and Germans got closer. “Fire!” Aidan had a target already targeted, that soldier fell. The machine gun started to fire away. The Belgians and few Germans dove to the ground. Many returned fire. Michael Roche a good friend of his laid in the trench next to him. He fired and while pulling the bolt back slumped over. Aidan looked at him, his eyes were glazed over and a bullet wound had knocked of the corner of his head. Aidan wanted to throw up. Then he felt in raged. He looked down the sights of his gun and spotted a German running forward before diving to cover again. The soldier stood up again, Aidan fired and the German collapsed.
The Germans and Belgians kept coming, they eventually got close enough to throw their grenades. Aidan hated the name explosions-on-a-stick. They were designed to be thrown far while the Entente's grenades were designed for close quarters. In simple terms, soldiers of Alliance countries could hit them with grenades before soldiers of Entente countries could. One grenade was aimed for the machine gun above them. The grenade hit the side of the wall and fell into the ditch, the ensuing explosion killed Sergeant Boyd along with his Leftenant.
All Aidan could do was cover his head, wishing he had more than a cap to protect it. He looked back over the ditch and fired again. The Belgians and Germans had more men, especially here away from the main action were the Germans were pushing for Paris. He pulled out a grenade and pulled the pin, it was designed for defending. He lobbed it over the ditch and hoped it reached the enemy soldiers. Eventually more friendly artillery arrived and it started to pound the Belgians and Germans. The Belgians and Germans had seemed to have out ran their artillery forces because no enemy artillery answered back. And that was the deciding factor. Aidan looked and aimed, the Belgians and Germans were falling back.
The Germans and Belgians kept coming, they eventually got close enough to throw their grenades. Aidan hated the name explosions-on-a-stick. They were designed to be thrown far while the Entente's grenades were designed for close quarters. In simple terms, soldiers of Alliance countries could hit them with grenades before soldiers of Entente countries could. One grenade was aimed for the machine gun above them. The grenade hit the side of the wall and fell into the ditch, the ensuing explosion killed Sergeant Boyd along with his Leftenant.
All Aidan could do was cover his head, wishing he had more than a cap to protect it. He looked back over the ditch and fired again. The Belgians and Germans had more men, especially here away from the main action were the Germans were pushing for Paris. He pulled out a grenade and pulled the pin, it was designed for defending. He lobbed it over the ditch and hoped it reached the enemy soldiers. Eventually more friendly artillery arrived and it started to pound the Belgians and Germans. The Belgians and Germans had seemed to have out ran their artillery forces because no enemy artillery answered back. And that was the deciding factor. Aidan looked and aimed, the Belgians and Germans were falling back.
That didn't mean he couldn't stop shooting at them. The machine gun agreed. A few minuets later the Portland Alliance soldiers that had escaped were out of range. Many men still laid dead and dying. Aidan finally had a chance to actually breath. It was almost dusk, he took off his cap and wiped his forehead.
“When you think they'll attack again?” A private asked,
“I don't know Patrick. But they'll be back soon. I would guess tomorrow morning.” Aidan replied. He pulled off his canteen and took and gulped down some much needed water.
(OOC:Here is a hint on the fate of Saint-Omer, go to it's Wikipedia page and looked at its sister cities.
Pictured below
Irish Dublin Volunteer Regiment
“When you think they'll attack again?” A private asked,
“I don't know Patrick. But they'll be back soon. I would guess tomorrow morning.” Aidan replied. He pulled off his canteen and took and gulped down some much needed water.
(OOC:Here is a hint on the fate of Saint-Omer, go to it's Wikipedia page and looked at its sister cities.
Pictured below
Irish Dublin Volunteer Regiment