大象传媒

The following story appears courtesy of and with thanks to Arthur Cope, R. A. (T. A.) and Richard A. Cope.

June 1940, and the Allied Armies were withdrawing from France. As we drove along the packed narrow road with our artillery guns behind our vehicles we suddenly came to a halt as traffic piled up following the breakdown of a huge French lorry, completely blocking the road.
As we stood there an old lady approached us. Fortunately, I knew a little French language and I was able to understand that a dog had gone wild and attacked people. Some men had managed to chase it into a cellar. Now they were terrified that it would break out and attack them. They wondered if we could go along to destroy it.
Taking my rifle, I cautiously approached the dog's 'prison'. The door was constructed of flimsy bits of wood with an opening covered with a kind of wire mesh. As I looked into the dark interior I saw a huge Alsatian-type, wild-looking, wolf-like animal. I gazed at the creature as it stared back at me with a most terrifying expression and with a mouth displaying a most alarming set of vicious teeth. It sat there snarling at me and appearing as if about to spring.
Slowly I made a hole in the wire mesh, just large enough for me to slide in the barrel of my rifle. A couple of my colleagues stood cautiously nearby, all of us aware that should I miss, the dog would surely break down the door with ease and there would be dire consequences.
I placed the rifle to my shoulder, took aim and gently began to squeeze the trigger. I tried to recall the instructions I had been given during small-arms training in my Territorial Army days. "Keep calm. Do not pull the trigger. Squeeze it gently." For what seemed an eternity my finger gently pressed the trigger. Then with a loud report, the bullet sped from the gun. I saw a tiny hole appear in the dog's forehead right between the eyes.
For a couple of seconds there was no movement except for a trickle of blood from the wound. Then the animal gently swayed and dropped on its side. There was a sudden shudder - and all was over.
What a relief! Grateful thanks from the dozen or so French people who had gathered and then, the road having been cleared, we were once more on our journey - to the beaches of Dunkirk.

Continued.....
'This story was submitted to the People鈥檚 War site by 大象传媒 Radio Merseyside鈥檚 People鈥檚 War team on behalf of the author and has been added to the site with his / her permission. The author fully understands the site's terms and conditions.'

漏 Copyright of content contributed to this Archive rests with the author. Find out how you can use this.