Scratch

So here I stand, tied awkwardly to a wooden post jutting out of the soft ground. It is 6am, and the sun is about to rise.
I am shaking. A cool breeze washes over my face, shocking me to life. I hardly slept last night; there was no way I could possibly sleep through my final hours on Earth.
I am so exhausted: yet having the chance to gather my thoughts after months and months of relentless fighting comes as a welcome relief. I know I should be terrified, but it is impossible for me to fear death at the moment. My family back in England would not want me to spend my final moments upset and distressed, so I vow that I will do them proud.
I stand up a little straighter; straining against the ropes restricting my movement. In the distance, I spot Sargeant Faraday. He is leading the rest of my fellow soldiers across the field, towards me. They all line up, totally silent.
There is an odd feeling in the air, as if the world is about to end, and everyone is at a loss as to what to do and how to react. MY world is ending, but they can all learn from my mistakes. I only realised what I had done after I had done it.
I was sentenced two weeks ago: death by the firing squad, for desertion.
I did not desert anyone.
We were fighting the Fritzes in Ypres, but were vastly outnumbered. Sargeant Faraday ordered us to run, and attack - though we all knew that anyone who actually obeyed the order would be shot down instantly by the Germans.
"Run, you lazy beggars! Anyone who stays will be arrested, so get up out of the trench and attack, boys! Show no mercy!"
We all thought Sargeant Faraday had gone bonkers. The other troops showed no mercy, but were shot down and dropped dead like flies. Leaping from the trench to fight would have been like suicide - there was no real way of making it to the other side. I'd been in the same situation several times before, though there were more Germans this time; and less of us Tommies. The sound of bullets echoed around the now silent trench, and the screams cut short haunted me. I tried to focus my attention away from the horror going on just feet away, but it was impossible. I had to get a glimpse of the action: though the sound of bullets had now stopped. It was over.
Cautiously, I raised my head above the trench. All was quiet over no-man's land.
I had made it.
Oh God, no I hadn't.
I was pulled abruptly from the trench by Sargeant Faraday. By some miracle he had survived, and returned to the trench to check for soldiers that had deserted the troop. Me.
It all happened so fast...
I was arrested shortly after, and I appeared at court two and a half weeks later. The martial lasted less than an hour, and I was unrepresented. An hour for a man's life. Disgusting.
So that's how I got here.
The padre is trying to talk to me, I send him away. No matter how many times people tell me I did the right thing, I can't help wishing I HAD obeyed Faraday's orders. My death would have been much quicker, less painful.
The remaining soldiers pay their final respects to me, silent. They are lead away by Sargeant Faraday, who seems to show no resent for how unfair he has been towards me. But I don't care. I don't care about anything any more.
On the horizon, the sun casts a deep-amber glow over the mangled landscape. It is beautiful, and I am thankful that I have the opportunity to see it, as a few moments later a soldier on duty approaches me and places a cap over my head, obscuring my vision.
This is it. The firing squad is waiting or me, just yards away.
I look down, though all I can see is the ground and my battered old boots. A small crack in the cap allows a little light to angle its way in; and as it hits my face I am dazzled... it's like a guardian angel, here to save me...
There is a gruff shout, a click, and the echo of a volley.
I wish I had a chance to...-




(This is what it was like for many WW1 soldiers. They suffered injustice, and were executed for desertion, and two were shot by the firing squad for simply falling asleep at their posts.)

What do you think? I think it's an accurate representation of the battles at Ypres 

Opinions? Did you learn something?    Hehe XD