(8) Over the top

The heavy artillery had been going steadily for 3 days now, and our orders have come, tonight, we go over the top. The great military minds' plan is to bombard the German trenches, then send us over to kill the few remaining soldiers. My great faith in them at the beginning of the war is all but gone,they have no idea what its like. And i have equally little faith in this new plan, I've seen the German trenches, i know how deep they are, i can predict what'll happen, we'll get there and be mown to pieces, but what choice to we have? The punishment for deserting is death anyway. In preparation for "the last charge" our numbers have been boosted by an American and an Australian, and we think it great fun to get them to say normal words and see who has the most trouble. Luckily the American (George) is a weapons expert and he has taught us all how to use the new weapons, properly. Time for bed, we all need a good nights sleep in preparation, even if it is daytime.