FIGHTING FOR HIS GLASSES
A pair of field-glasses “made in Germany” was responsible for the loss of a trench by the Germans in circumstances at once laughable and inspiring.
The hero was a young British subaltern who won the Victoria Cross.
The subaltern had a pair of Beiss field-glasses of which he was extraordinarily proud. He bored everyone stiff by talking about them continually.
One day his company had been compelled to fall back on their support trenches owing to a sudden German attack.
All at once the subaltern shouted “Good heavens!” and bolted through the communication trench.
A sergeant, who was very fond of the young officer, went after him, and came back shortly after to the commanding officer to report:—
“Sir, he has recaptured the trench.”
The commanding officer collected his men, and again advanced to the fire trench, where he found the subaltern, with a revolver in each hand, in front of a whole row of Germans, who had laid down their rifles and were holding up their hands. The commanding officer congratulated him, but pointed out the recklessness of his action.
“Sir,” replied the subaltern, “I wanted to get my glasses back.”