Chapter 3
Albert had been in a German attack which had pushed the allies back no more than a few hundred metres, but as was normal in World War I, allies soon counter attacked. Albert’s platoon found itself isolated in one of the forward trenches, fighting at times hand to hand with the attacking French soldiers who were now rolling up the trenches.
“What do you mean ‘rolling up the trenches’?” asked Sue.
“It’s a military expression used which means when an attacking side makes it into an enemy trench they had to clear it of any enemy soldiers. This is done by using hand grenades, pistols and bayonets. It’s a harsh and brutal way of warfare, but hand to hand fighting always is. It’s hard to understand unless you’ve done it yourself.”
The French were rolling along the trench system, thr
