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.Nulli Secundus -
'Second to None'
by Terence Cardwell
Chapter
Twenty Four -
Home for
Christmas
The progress of world events was closely followed by the
Coldstreamers at Windsor Barracks, who were aghast at
the way events were developing because of one
assassination.
The army was already in an advance state of readiness,
having been preparing for any eventuality for the past
month, and had been in a mobilised state since then.
The Coldstreamers were in their barracks reading and
discussing the latest events reported by The London
Daily Mirror. The newspaper headlines blared at
them: Great Britain declares war on Germany.
‘Hell, we’re in for it now,’ Bob said, holding the paper
for the others to see. ‘I never thought it would come to
this. It looks like our blokes aren’t backing down.’
‘All because of an agreement nearly a hundred years
old,’ Jim said.
‘We don’t have to get involved in this squabbling of the
Germans and Frenchies. They started it— let ’em finish
it, I say!’ George agreed.
‘Well, they did warn us this could happen, and we’ve
been getting ready for it for some time. Now we start to
earn our pay,’ Jack pointed out.
‘But I agree— it’s not our war, if we follow our motto
we’ll be the first there, something I’m not real keen
about.’ Jim shook his head.
‘I reckon it’ll be all over in six months. Those Germans
will be a push-over,’ George said. ‘After all, we have
the best-trained army in the world and the best shooters
in the world.’ He winked at Jack .
Jack gave a smile and shook his head knowingly. He was a
member of the Coldstream Guard rifle shooting team that
had just won the British Army rifle shooting
championships, beating contenders from over twenty other
regiments. The trophy was proudly mounted in the mess
hall with ‘2nd Division Coldstream Guards’ engraved on
it.
‘According to all the so-called experts we’ll be home by
Christmas,’ Bob said, doubting his own words.
‘I
hope you’re bloody right,’ Jack replied. ‘But I doubt
it. Those Germans are no Boy Scouts. Some of them are
highly trained soldiers. I don’t think they’ll be as
easy to beat as people think.’
‘Damn. I hope you’re wrong, Jack. The thought of being
home by Christmas certainly has an appeal to it,’ Jim
said hopefully.
‘Either way, I have a feeling we’re about to write
history for the Coldstreamers,’ Bob replied.
They all agreed, nodding their heads, feeling proud to
be Coldstreamers.
Jack felt a cold shiver pass through him and he sensed
a cold indescribable blackness for the future.
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