大象传媒

This story has been written onto the 大象传媒 People's War site by CSV Storygatherer Robin. D. Bailey on behalf of author Victor 'Donald' Delves. They fully understand the terms and conditions of the site.

WARNING: NOT FOR THE FAINT HEARTED!

We were going up a mountain side one early morning, and dozens of Mules were taking up supplies to the front line. We were also moving forward and being shelled continually.

Each of the Mules was being lead by a Commonwealth soldier who looked after their animals in the same way we would look after our cat or dog.

Suddenly, a shell burst quite near and injured some of us. But, what I cannot forget to this day: -

I heard someone shouting and crying quite loudly, I looked round and saw one of the Mules with its intestines coming out of its stomach.

The Mule was desparately trying to get to its feet, but was loosing the battle because it was so badly injured.

I will never, ever forget the Mule Handler, calling out the Mule's name and as it got weaker and could struggle no more, the poor soldier had both arms around the Mules neck and kept shouting it's name as the tears rolled down his cheeks. He was loosing his friend!

I stopped to look at this very sad incident and after a few moments, my Sergeant told me to move on. So I had to move on up the mountain side to the front line and after about 3 minutes, I heard a rifle shot. The poor Mule had been put out of its misery.

How that poor soldier had cried over his quite obviously, pet Mule. "God Bless Them Both".

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