In the trenches, waiting around for something to happen was probably the most fearful time. With not much to do other than guard and watch, the men had time to think about their loved ones back home and whether they would ever make it back there alive or even make it to their next leave date. Bertram was on guard while Archie and David were trying to sleep nearby. ‘I’ll tell you what, the architects of this dugout have got it spot on, apart from the fact that there’s no door, but that can be overlooked. Just look at this roomy lounge area. No drawing room or parlour, but I’m sure the Germans can arrange the renovations during their next barrage. We haven’t enough furniture to furnish it anyway. What really lets this property down though is the foot of sludge and the rats.’ ‘Will you be quiet Bertie, I’m trying to get forty winks here,’ Archie pleaded. ‘Yeah, give it a rest Bertie,’ David added. ‘No sense of humour you lot. I’m bored, bored, bored.’ continued Bertie. ‘Why don’t you pop over to the German lines and ask them if they have any furniture they can spare,’ David joked. ‘I hate this place. I’m going to tell Sergeant Johnson that I’ve had enough and I want to go home,’ Bertie carried on. ‘Oh, I’m sure he’ll be understanding and put in a good word for you with the firing squad,’ Archie replied sarcastically. ‘Why don’t you do what that lad from B company did, he worked his ticket alright,’ David suggested. ‘Oh yes, I heard about that, but he had really lost his mind.’ Archie said. ‘Why, what did he do?’ Bertram was intrigued. ‘He was only caught by the Platoon Commander shaking hands with a dismembered arm embedded in the wall of the trench and talking to an imaginary German,’ Archie informed him. ’Really?’ ‘Yes, what’s the arm in that?’ David and Archie started to laugh. ‘Not funny David, you need to see someone,’ said Bertram, who was not amused by his friend’s sick joke. Fear, boredom and the horror of the situation that the fighting men were in often bought out dark humour. Three young men answer Kitchener’s call. A close friendship and a dark sense of humour is the only thing that makes life bearable in the horror they face in the trenches. This book pulls at the heart strings Please share TRENCH 31 By Clive Ward Warning does contain dark humour TRENCH 31 By Clive Ward, Veteran clivewardauthor.com In memory of My Uncle Private Bertram Allen Ward, 10th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters. UK Kindle and Paperback amazon.co.uk/Trench-31-Clive…