I'm here once again and got another chapter for this one. Hopefully I got this chapter out good, but you never know. Well here is this chapter and enjoy.

May 1, 1915

Near Artois, France

Alpha Team

British Army

7 months since arriving in France, Humphrey and his team have been training constantly from practicing combat and to digging trenches and setting up defense positions. They already fought with the III Corps in Belgium. That was a serious battle that he has ever seen and so did the rest of his team as well. After that battle they were pulled back into France to rest after fighting for some time over their. The III Corps were amazed on how well Alpha team held their ground during the fire fights that they've endured.

After that battle the III Corps were impressed on how well Alpha team were and how they handled themselves in that intense battle. The III Corps was going ask them if they wanted to join their unit, but unfortunately another army has requested their assistance in Artois. The First Army has requested them to help them out with their plan so they can assist in the defense so the enemy can't advance. The battle in Belgium was not done. However they had to move on to help out another unit. With their Captain already talking to the First Army General and what he wanted his team to do for them in Artois.

Humphrey sitting down writing again as they await for their orders and what needs to me done. 'May 1, 1915 France: I've seen war now it's nothing compared to the other wars that I've heard or learned back then. Dead bodies on both sides, blood of the dead left on the ground and it stay their pretty much until it rains or we crawl right through it with the mud or dirt. Wounded with lost limbs from grenades, mortars, and artillery shells. This devastation is going to get much worse. Houses and buildings destroyed, damaged, and burning away. At least their weren't any civilians involved as my team has helped some people to get out of the battlefield and they can see the damage and losing their homes to destruction or dismantling them to use the woods and other materials to use to set up defenses, or for other things.

I can say that this battle will be huge for us. The First Army that we're going to help out is going to be big since I have a plan in motion for this battle if we are in a tight situation. We must hold this area or it could mean disaster. However things were worse back in December 1914 in Ypres the enemy used gas on British forces their which was devastating. We now carry gas mask on our gear in case the enemy use gas on us for their attacks. Some how we received really good mask from the French forces as they gave us their version of the gas mask that they are using for the enemy gas attack. Now we are ready to head to Artois for this battle.'

Soon afterwards he sees his team come towards him as they tell him that they have to stock up on supplies that they'll need when their at Artois. Plans have been set and from what he knows is that they'll be assisting on the north east flank where the enemy is expected to have the biggest fortified defense. They are to try and attack that section and capture the line. He told them that they'll be heading towards their position in six days.

Humphrey check on his gear to make sure that he has everything that he needs for this battle. Just then one of his squad mates came into his assigned tent and gave him a letter that is addressed to him. He thanks his squad mate and dismissed him as he sits on his bed and looks who sent him a letter until he read it was from his cousin Michael that is in the Australian army. The letter was sent to him back in April which tells him that it was sent to him last month meaning that he's probably on his deployment. However, where is he deployed to?

Humphrey opens the letter and begins to read his cousin's letter.

'April, 1915

Dear Humphrey

I hope this gets to you 'fore yer next battle. My regiment has been sent to Gallipoli. British Marines an' army troops, New Zealand, an' Canadian troops are also sent on this mission as well. We Australians are seen different from tha rest, but I won't let that get ta me since I can prove ta tha others that we Australians are equal as them on tha battlefield. This mission that I'm goin on is big. I can say that it could change tha tide of this an' end tha war soon if we can accomplish what needs ta be done where I'm goin. Tha invasion of Gallipoli is tha homeland of tha Ottoman Empire. If we can capture tha homeland of tha enemy empire, tha empire of tha Ottomans will likely collapse an' they are more then likely ta surrender which means that we will have control of the Ottoman homeland along with tha sea route from Europe ta Russia an' it's more then likely that tha war will end by tha end of this year or so.

I can't explain everything since I have a lot of briefings goin' on. Tha ship that is taken me an' tha regiment ta Gallipoli right now an' I've made friends with them back when I was in training. We've already talked an' have said that most of us will die in this battle an' we are enjoyin' tha time that we have left 'ere on this ship. We aren't celebratin' like many others because we know that this war has been changin' tha world faster then we even realize. I've heard a lot of amazing about you so far in you since yer fightin' in France, jus wish I was there too, but I have a different assignment.

It's been awhile since we seen each other, but I hope that we can meet when this war ends so that we can catch up on what has happened so far. I've seen nothin' but ocean since I've been on this ship. Not much ta do but since you can't really get off tha ship but see what tha Navy sees. It's actually calming of a sorts, maybe after seeing intense combat it may help out those who seen a lot in this war. I'm not sure though. I still enjoy watchin' tha sea since it's really an amazing sight ta look at. It can get rough at times an' sea sickness can happen. It's not a welcome feeling, but most of us will get use ta it after awhile.

Well I want ta say more, but I got ta get through this travel an' all the briefings that I have. Hopefully I can write to you soon when I get a chance again. Good luck to you while yer fightin' in Europe.

From,

Pte. Michael Wilson'

After reading the letter from his cousin, he sees his team looking at him wondering what's going on. Until he told them that it's personal family matters, but did tell them that his cousin is in battle right now fighting the Ottomans in a battle for control of Gallipoli.

Afterwards he heads out with his squad as they train for this upcoming mission that they are going to embark on in Artois. What are they to expect for this? They won't know until it happens. Humphrey has told his team to keep their weapons with them for the training purposes so they can understand what they need to do for the battle.

Training for this battle has been tough, but it's helping them out a lot and will give them a huge advantage on the enemy and to make sure that they won't capture the rest of Artois for their push to advance deeper into France.

They can't let that happen at all, they are going to do everything they can to put a stop to the enemy advance. For now they must finish their plans for this battle.

Humphrey looked towards Artois and see that the French are already in combat with them and he can hear the gunfire that's goin on and the plums of smoke rising up. This is going to get very serious. Just then a British officer came for Humphrey and asked to speak to him alone since it's important that he knows first before his squad does.

The two walk towards Humphrey's tent where they both sit down and the officer tells him of the change in plans that they'll attack South area of Neuve Chapelle in two weeks since they need to gain some ground to push the Germans out of Artois. The plan for Humphrey's squad is to set up the north section of where they are to attack that section with numbers and support and artillery bombardments.

Unfortunately they still have two weeks before they'll attack that part of the city. French forces will be striking soon so that this gives them a chance to attack as well. Stronghold points have been set and new trench lines are being made throughout Artois.

With no time to waste Humphrey heads out to meet with the commanding officer of this plan and see what they're up against from the enemy and the strategy that must be played.

2 weeks later

May 15, 1915

Battle of Festubert

Artois, France

'The artillery fire on the German lines were a complete and utter failure. The initial plan of that from our artillery was to destroy German defense and knocking out mg positions was a disaster. All I saw was unharmed enemy position and tons of Jerry still in their trenches and ready to fight us. I know that they'll wait for us to attack first, but we must do what we can and I know that we're going to have tons of casualties when this happens.

We got reinforcements from the Canadian forces and India as well to assist in this attack that were doing right now. I hear the explosion from the artillery and can see the blasts at times from the trench that I'm sitting with my squad. It's going to be a tough nut to crack but we're here to win this war and stop the enemy offence on France.'

The officer calls out and Humphrey places his papers away in a satchel bag that he's carrying and gave the pencil back to one of his squamates. Orders were given now since they're going to charge after the bombardment that is going on right now. They are to attack tonight and it's already in the afternoon. Not much is going on since they are going to try and get the enemy by surprise. Still the enemy is prepped and ready for what's to come

Humphrey and his team are ready to fight to try and gain ground on the Germans. They feel like they're going crazy in the trench right now since they haven't been doing anything at all right now. Humphrey and his squad have been fire shots as well trying to hit any enemy troops that they see. It wasn't easy at all since they still have hours left before it would be dark.

Three hours before darkness, Humphrey and his team were out of the trench and given time to eat and rest before they return to the front line. They all can hear the explosions not far from where they are right now and they can see the explosions as well.

Sitting down and relaxing as they waited before being called back, at least they don't need to be waiting inside of a trench hoping that they don't get hit by a mortar, or artillery round.

Still they know these risks that they're taking and the lives that they can save right now. If all goes well then they may take a lot of ground soon. He's gotten reports by their French allies that their artillery barrages have been more effective in destroying defenses and taking out the barbwire barricades and they've managed to suffer less casualties when attacking enemy trenches as well.

After getting an hour to be off the line, Humphrey and his squad returned into the trenches and moved back into their current position as Humphrey briefs his squad on what his plan is as they will attack tonight. They know that the enemy defenses are still up and fortifications and mg positions are still up as well. The original plan was to advance with the infantry and capture the first days objectives, however now looking at the damage this changes his plans.

Seeing the barbed wire gave him the idea that his squad can use the barbed wire to their advantage since it may hide them from being spotted from the enemy mg positions by using the bodies of the dead. The smell with be atrocious but the squad agrees with their squad leaders plan for the attack.

Soon each squad member took turns using the trench periscope to see where the barbed wire and where the breaches are. They couldn't see the enemy trenches but they know that it just past the wire and they know their positions now and what needs to be done.

It's now night time and the attack is about to commence, Humphrey and his squad loaded their rifles and got ready as they went over the plan several times. They are ready for this attack.

Waiting by the ladders to climb out of the trenches and make a run for the barbed wire and get into position to provide support to the infantry as they try to attempt to capture the enemy trench and take out as many enemy troopers as possible.

Humphrey sees the officer get up top of the trench and blows the whistle signaling the charge and all allied troopers got out of the trench and made their charge towards the German trench. Humphrey and his squad saw illumination rounds in the air giving them light to see where their going for some time before it wares off.

Humphrey's squad all made a run for it through the muddy battlefield, they all managed to reach the barbed wire and immediately they all went prone as the rest of the infantry pushed through the openings of the barbed wire. German defenders opened fire and their MGs were ripping apart the infantry. Humphrey and his men picked off as enemy soldiers as they could, but they see that their attack is proving to be ineffective now.

The squad looks at Humphrey and he shakes his head signaling them that they won't be able to advance into the trenches at all. Theirs's too much heavy resistance to get through. The retreat will be ordered in a bit and they'll return back to their trench and prepare again for sure.

Not long as the attack was initiated the whistle blew and the officers called for the retreat back into the trenches, Humphrey and his squad popped smoke grenades so they can retreat without being seen by the enemy. As the smoke grenades filled their sections, the squad immediately retreated back to their trench, all of them made back not a single one of them got hit at all.

Humphrey checked the battlefield seeing the casualties and their are bodies all over the area. This turned out to be a failure of an attack. He needs to get his report going now since his Captain wants to know what happened and get as much details that he can for him and the results of the attack.

May 25, 1915

'After ten brutal days of serious fire fighting and hardly gaining ground, we've managed to capture just nearly 2 miles of territory just south of Neuve Chappelle in Artois France. What I know is that this was just a very poor planned out attack in this sector in order to try and liberate Artois. Somehow now I'm now starting to see my previous battles that I've been in so far and I feel like it may be my permanent nightmare.

After the first attack we got more help and it still did no good at all. Watching our allies make an attempt to try and breach the enemy lines were no good at all. My squad and I could just watch and seeing the soldiers getting shot at or getting hit by artillery rounds from the enemy.

This has been brutal from what I hear from the officers that casualties are very high from this, if it's true then we lost more then 10,000 men on this attack, I think we lost over 15,000 on this attack. I can say that this plan was not well organized by the commander of this attack. How will this play out with other commanding officers on the other front lines in this western region of this war.

After my last reports to my Captain, he wasn't please on how well the offensive went as we are only assisting in the attack before be sent to another sector to fight in France. He was more pleased on how well I commanded my squad and taking out targets in what is becoming to be known as no man's land.

I don't know how much more will it take until they realize that they are losing tons of soldiers and supplies in fighting the Central Powers, it may cost us the war as well.'

Soon afterwards Humphrey is notified from a soldier that their transport is on it's way. He stands up and sets the papers away in a satchel and gets his helmet and gear on as he gets up from the dirt floor in a underground barracks his squad was given to them a week ago. He grabs his rifle and places his sidearm in his holster and heads up back to the trench and looks back to the East seeing the new German line that's being set up.

His squad joins up with him as they are getting ready to head back west away from the combat as they got orders to return with their CO and give out the report from this battle that they've just finished. Still, the battle for Artois is still going as they can hear the war in the distance.

Overhead Humphrey and his squad look up in the sky and they can see the war planes flying by both allied and enemy. Dogfights are happening right now as well as air support on both sides.

Soon the squad see a soldier come up to them signaling them to follow him out of the line as they move west to their transport.

They arrive not long after and see their truck waiting for them as they load in their stuff and get on board. The truck soon leaves the area as they all relax now after fighting for ten days. Still they may return back to Artois to assist again, they'll just have to wait and see.

A couple of hours later they returned back to their CO's office as Humphrey gave his report to him.

After the report was read by the Captain Humphrey and his squad were promoted. He got promoted to Lieutenant while the rest of his squad got promoted to Lance Corporal. Humphrey's Captain saw that Humphrey is become a great tactician in the field now. His experience that he gains now will help him during this war.

Still the war has no end in sight and it's starting to turn into a stalemate on both sides with both Allies and the Central Powers gaining and losing territory.

At last I've finally finished this chapter. This took a lot longer to do, but I managed to get it out. Hopefully this turned out to be fine. Keep an eye out for the next chapter to come out. Signing off.