Opening Moves

As he wound up proceedings, a panting Lance-Corporal runner arrived bearing orders from the Brigadier, disappearing as soon as Llewellyn acknowledged that he understood and would comply, a process that took slightly longer as he had to open the envelope one-handed.

Staring at the back of the runner, the Welshman composed himself.

“I’m sure you can imagine what this is?” holding the message pad out towards his officers.

“Attack orders?” quipped Ramsey with a lightness he did not feel, his comment drawing weary chuckles from the assembly.

“Forget all I just said gentlemen, we are pulling back to the other side of the canal. The Brigadier doesn’t want us cut off. Nice of him really. Just a little late.”

It was a sensible order to a man some miles away but the impact of paying so high a price to defend ground and then to retreat was galling to every officer present.

Unfolding his map once more, Llewellyn drew his commanders closer and under the flickering light they planned.

Smearing the map with a combination of blood, sweat, and ash, he ran his finger over the positions, illustrating his words. “Hauptmann, part of your unit will evacuate back over the Bride, positioning opposite the breach here. You will be first to move your men at,” looking at his watch and making a quick decision, “2330 hrs.”

Schuster checked his own timepiece and nodded.

“The first group should be able to resite within thirty minutes?”

This time the Hauptmann smiled wearily.

“Twenty minutes Herr Maior. No more than that.”

Llewellyn appreciated the man’s enthusiasm and national pride but there was something vital that needed to be said.

“We will allow thirty minutes Captain. The Bride is a flimsy lady and we mustn’t rush her.”

Schuster could not help but concede that point.

“At the same time A Coy will start evacuating over the remains of the Stadthausbrücke, same procedure, covering force behind, force over the water and set for defence.”

And Llewellyn went piece by piece through the withdrawal, allowing a few minutes here and there as a safety margin until he got to the end. Firing orders for the mortars and artillery were confirmed, Reece and Ames taking notes, the artilleryman’s constantly shaking hands drawing more than one sympathetic look.

“Black Watch will be next at 0120 and will set up right opposite the Bride, covering the rearguard sections of D Company.”

Llewellyn stood upright, almost challenging his officers to disagree.

“D Company will move over the Bride commencing at 0140 and I shall be last to cross.”

There was no dissent. The young Major had without question earned the right.

The moment had arrived and Llewellyn took it head on with all the emotion of his celtic race.

“Today we have lost many a good man. Friends have fallen,” the slight crackle in his voice betraying the exhausted man’s angst.

“I can only say that it was a privilege to fight with all of you on this day, for we have done our duty to the fullest degree.”

In a remarkable moment of leadership, he repeated the phrase, his eyes boring into the disconsolate Reece, words spoken for him and his predicament, “To the fullest degree.”

The young Welshman tightened his jaw and accepted the gift his Major offered. Honour was satisfied.

“Thank you all and please pass on my admiration and thanks to every man under your commands.”

Bringing himself back from the emotional edge, Llewellyn looked across the assembly.

“I will not expect your written reports until after we have relocated.”

The look on his face carried the intended humour and the comment was well received.

“If there are no further questions gentlemen?”

There were none and the group broke up.

A meaningful look from the Welshman had stayed Ramsey’s departure and, once again, the two found themselves alone.

The younger man struggled for his words.

“I know lad,” the soothing voice of the Black Watch Major cutting through the silence.

“You did extremely well today, extremely well.”

Coming from the legend, Llewellyn could accept that as praise indeed.

“Thank you Major Ramsey. Everyone did well today I think.”

A brief moment’s pause, during which the RWF officer’s stance softened, his face reflecting how his mind was dragging up the day’s demons.

“They came on and on, they didn’t stop.”

“No one said they aren’t brave soldiers did they?”

“No, and they are very brave; very, very brave.”

“Valour knows no national boundaries Major Llewellyn.”

The tired Welshman nodded wearily.

“Many a brave man died here today and that’s a fact Major Ramsey.”

To bring an end to the maudlin moment the Black Watch officer brought himself to the attention.

“Major Llewellyn, it has been a privilege to serve with you.”

He saluted the younger man, and went to take his leave.

He stopped, considering something, and turned back again.

“One day when all this is over, someone will write a book about today Lieutenant Chard.”

The reference to the commander of Rourke’s Drift brought a dry laugh from the Welshman.