Jack, ahead of us by a few yards, he was our forward scout.

He signalled down, and in unison we all bobbed down amongst the trees and bushes.

He signalled again for the aft scout to go forward and the gunners in the middle.

Slowly us men crept into position. then we waited.

Jack was known to be able to smell the enemy and he had never been wrong.The men totally trusted him .

The crickets and the odd birds chirruped and chirped as usual.

Jack edged forward, creeping forward.We couldn’t see what he could see . But then,

All Hell let loose ! We weren’t even a full patrol! Bullets started firing! Commands being yelled from both sides. Me mate threw himself down on the ground beside me, “ Crikey he was really shitting himself, but then all of us were.”

It was hot, the bushes were scratchy and I could feel my blood coming down my neck from those scratches.The noise was overwhelming

“And me mate rolled over onto his back, holding his automatic over his head and letting loose rounds and rounds of bullets screaming all the time, Jesus, bloody hell, Jesus I’m gonna die,I’m gonna die.”

This bloody rocket whizzed over head hitting the tree just behind us. The enemy was lining up the flare from the bullets. The rocket splintered the tree into a thousand little javelins showering down on us.” He was off his brain! “

I feel bad these days when I remembered what I said to him , but I had to, he was gonna get us killed. So I pointed my rifle at him and said “

If you fire you that fucken, rifle again like that, I will bloody shoot you! Aim for the black ants down there !!”

He regained his composure . Sniffed back his nose , wiped his eyes on his giggle hat and let his stomach muscles dig him. down further under the little tree.

He was a good bloke really, it wasn’t the first time, we had All Hell let loose and it wasn’t the last.

It at least we both came home,” I’ll never forget that day, ‘cause I am ashamed you see, you don’t threaten yuh Mates, do yuh ?”

The old man took out his handkerchief and wiped his eyes, “No I will never forget that day “

His chin quivered as he tried to take control of his emotions.

“ People these days would think me flamin traitor to me mate, but we were there,that day when all Hell let loose ! And they wouldn’t understand,!

He looked across at me, “what do you think Love?”

“No I guess they wouldn’t darl… but I understand and that’s all that matters isn’t ‘ it”.?

He picked up my hand a kissed it , and went back to his aged care room .

,