The sounds of artillery filled our ears. A non stop barrage. We had just entered the camp in which the 9th was stationed, only this time the camp grew. Apparently the 1st came to reinforce us, reinforce us for what? "What's goin on?" Bruno leaned over the wagon to some passersby. "The first came a couple of days ago, the artillery has increased, my guess, something big" Bruno thanked him and turned to us.
"Whatya think boys" "whatever it is, nothing good is going to come from it" Carlo slumped down. We made our way to our corner of the camp, only now there were more tents surrounding us. The camp was filled with a sense of hurry. People hurriedly running around. The once quiet and slow movement of the camp is now gone.
The day after we got back, all NCOs were called to regiment hq. Marco came back to us with the news. "Well boys, our prayers were answered, some action is going to take place along the line. Were going to assault the lines of the O.R. We're going to be the third wave".
"Third wave" Bruno said silently "All the action is going to be finished by the time we get there" He said almost sadly to Carlo. "Wouldn't say that, that's only if the first two waves succeed" Marco responded. Marco headed off, but turned around in the opening in the tent. "We weren't given a date for the attack, be ready, get your final say in now.".
With that we were left alone. Marco was excited, or nervous. We were all nervous, though we did not want to pay too much heed to our worries, so we went about as we usually did.
About a week later we were given the word, and we headed off to the trenches. The mood was much like our first time heading off to the trenches. We were quiet, as we trudged along on the frozen dirt to the lines.
The trench lines were filled. Before, there would be a squad per section of the trench, in all honesty, not that many men per area. But now, as we made our way to the support trench, we had to squeeze our way past hundreds of men already huddled in.
We were given a small area next to the communication trench to wait. The communication trench was filled by our peers in the second wave. They weren't given a seat but had to huddle around in the relatively small communication trench, they had to be ready to move up, immediately after the first wave. We were practically shoulder to shoulder in the trenches, we squatted down on some wooden boxes.
"How they expect us to fight in this weather, I don't even know if my fingers will be able to pull the trigger" Bruno said as he rubbed his gloved hands together. "Were Legionnaires, we make do" Felix said with a shrug. "Fucken weather" Bruno said under his breath, he spit between his legs.
Down the trench I could see men doing the same huddling together. Suddenly I saw a white snowflake fall from the cloudy sky and tumble down to land on a soldier's helmet. We were then surrounded by a flurry of snow. I could see thousands of snowflakes fall from the sky and land all around us.
"Some good news," Adrian said, holding out a snowflake that landed in his hands. "Good news, how in all things holy is this good news" Bruno said as he lit a cigarette, his hands shaking as he covered the small flame of the match from the wind and snow. "Could obscure visibility of the O.R guns" Adrain responded. "Good point" Nando nodded "That is if we don't freeze to death before we get to go over the top" Felix chuckled dryly.
Around dawn, our guns opened up. If the enemy didn't know what we were planning today, they must have guessed after the bombardment. Hundreds of whistles flying above us, cutting lines in the falling snow.
Constant whistles, and constant bangs of the artillery. We peaked overhead, as anyone would. What I saw amazed me. I could see huge explosions of dirt and dust. I could see a fast shockwave right after impact. And I could count how long till a crack would reach my ears.
It was amazing. I knew how it felt to be on the receiving end of a bombardment, and I smiled a little, knowing that the O.R were shriveled up in their holes, praying that one wouldn't land next to them.
The bombardment went on for around an hour. Five minutes before it stopped, the first wave was sent off, with a whistle. The shells were still whistling above, and we were slowly filling in where the second wave was. Hunched low in the communication trench.
Once the bombardment stopped, the machine guns and counter artillery, mostly morters, opened up. I could hear cracks flying above me, the machine guns desperately shooting to stave off the attack.
The snow was falling more densely now, and I thanked God that it was, the visibility worse than before, hopefully the machine guns were firing blind. As soon as that second whistle rang, my heart began to beat fast. I could no longer feel the cold on my fingertips, I clutched my rifle hard, and fixed my bayonet.
My breathing slowed down. Breathing out long gusts of vapor, and taking in cold oxygen. We slowly walked forward towards the firing line, where I had been many times before. I was right behind Nando, with Felix to my back. We got into position, next to ladders going over the top of the trench.
The cracks whizzing above me, making us duck every time. About ten meters away was an officer. Wearing an officer's cap and a revolver in his right hand and a pocket watch in his left. He was staring at the pocket watch with an intensity. I looked around at the guys. Marco had little animation on his face, it was a cold look. His face locked in a scowl. Bruno, next to Marco, had a little grin, he was jumpy.
Carlo, next to his brother, had a cold face, but wore more worry than Marco. Adrian had a glazed look in his eyes. Felix, right next to me, turned and looked into my eyes, he nodded, I nodded back, then he turned his head back and faced the ladder. Nando to my right wore a nasty worry filled face.