Re: Pat Ritter. Books
Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2018 9:08 pm
'The Year That Never Was' - Page 40:
Chapter 6
Arriving at Pretoria Railway Station Joe’s surprise after the train stopped a distinguished dressed soldier entered his carriage. ‘Who is in charge?’ This soldier shouted.
Joe stood to salute. ‘I suppose I am.’ Joe stated. Being given the leadership before leaving on this journey.
‘You are to come with me.’ Joe followed this soldier to an awaiting carriage drawn by two magnificent black horses.
‘Can you at least tell me where we’re going?’ Joe asked his companion.
‘I’ve been instructed to escort you to Commander Lord Roberts.’
‘Who is Lord Roberts. May I ask?’ Joe queried.
‘Commanding Officer for Transvaal.’
Their carriage stopped in front of a building Joe recognised as important. After alighting, he followed the soldier into the building direct to an office. The soldier stood at attention, knocked on the close door. A loud voice called. ‘Enter’. The soldier opened the door, Joe followed to stand erect in front of a desk.
‘Are you in charge of the soldiers on the train?’ Joe nodded. The Commander stood, walked around his desk, took hold of Joe’s hand, shook hands, smiled. ‘Take a seat. What you did to those Boers who attacked your train. Remarkable. I’m Commander Lord Roberts.’
Joe couldn’t speak. Cat had his tongue. His mind raced a thousand mile a minute to take in what his Commanding Officer said. Joe sat on the seat offered by his Commanding Officer.
‘Do you drink tea?’ Lord Roberts asked in a more relaxed English accent. Joe nodded. ‘Black or white, sugar.’
‘Black……thank you.’ Joe muttered.
‘Black tea plus my usual.’ He shouted. ‘Now tell me, what is your name?’
‘Joe Gibson Sir.’ Joe expressed in a low tone.
‘You led your men into battle against the Boers who attacked the train.’ A question more than a command.
‘I suppose I did Sir. What were we to do other than shoot the enemy?’ Joe couldn’t think of anything else to tell his Commander.
‘Word reached our office yesterday. You buried the dead. Why bury the enemy?’ The Commander’s words echoed in Joe’s ears.
TO PURCHASE THIS BOOK CLICK ONTO THIS LINK: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/758644.
Chapter 6
Arriving at Pretoria Railway Station Joe’s surprise after the train stopped a distinguished dressed soldier entered his carriage. ‘Who is in charge?’ This soldier shouted.
Joe stood to salute. ‘I suppose I am.’ Joe stated. Being given the leadership before leaving on this journey.
‘You are to come with me.’ Joe followed this soldier to an awaiting carriage drawn by two magnificent black horses.
‘Can you at least tell me where we’re going?’ Joe asked his companion.
‘I’ve been instructed to escort you to Commander Lord Roberts.’
‘Who is Lord Roberts. May I ask?’ Joe queried.
‘Commanding Officer for Transvaal.’
Their carriage stopped in front of a building Joe recognised as important. After alighting, he followed the soldier into the building direct to an office. The soldier stood at attention, knocked on the close door. A loud voice called. ‘Enter’. The soldier opened the door, Joe followed to stand erect in front of a desk.
‘Are you in charge of the soldiers on the train?’ Joe nodded. The Commander stood, walked around his desk, took hold of Joe’s hand, shook hands, smiled. ‘Take a seat. What you did to those Boers who attacked your train. Remarkable. I’m Commander Lord Roberts.’
Joe couldn’t speak. Cat had his tongue. His mind raced a thousand mile a minute to take in what his Commanding Officer said. Joe sat on the seat offered by his Commanding Officer.
‘Do you drink tea?’ Lord Roberts asked in a more relaxed English accent. Joe nodded. ‘Black or white, sugar.’
‘Black……thank you.’ Joe muttered.
‘Black tea plus my usual.’ He shouted. ‘Now tell me, what is your name?’
‘Joe Gibson Sir.’ Joe expressed in a low tone.
‘You led your men into battle against the Boers who attacked the train.’ A question more than a command.
‘I suppose I did Sir. What were we to do other than shoot the enemy?’ Joe couldn’t think of anything else to tell his Commander.
‘Word reached our office yesterday. You buried the dead. Why bury the enemy?’ The Commander’s words echoed in Joe’s ears.
TO PURCHASE THIS BOOK CLICK ONTO THIS LINK: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/758644.