Of Heroes and Heroism...

07 Mar 08

Capt John Massey and 5th Battery, June 1918. When "ordinary men" become heroes:

By spring of 1918, the Allies had correctly concluded that the War was, at long last, winding down. Only the German High Command still desperately clung to the delusion that a "negotiated peace" with the intractable Allies was attainable. But, by that time, after millions of casualties (military and civilian), poison gas, and the precipitous sinking of the Lusitania, the Allies were in no mood for compromise!

The final, hopeless, German offensive, the "Second Battle of the Marne," and backdrop for Erich Remarque's 1929 anti-war novel, All Quiet onthe Western Front, ground to a painful halt near Paris at the beginning of June and was almost immediately driven back. Casualties were hideous! Germans shoved forward what remained of their best soldiers, the "Sturmabreilungen," (Storm Troopers). Predictably, the vast majority became casualties, and there were none to replace them.

British Captain John Massey's 5th Battery was one of the units overrun by the German offensive. With poison gas and high-explosive, Germans attacked Massey's position in an concerted effort to knock out his guns. But, Massey's guns continued firing through it all, including a direct assault by Storm Troopers. Fearlessly running from position to position, Massey directed his guns to fire straight into phalanxes of charging Germans, and succeeded in turning back the first assault, with heinous casualties. Wasting no time,Massey, Lewis Machinegun in hand and with his men following him, counter-charged straightaway. He was killed in the process, as were most of his Command. Massey 's position was eventually overrun, but at great cost, and what remained of his Command stood their ground to the last, never entertaining any thoughtof retreating. Massey himself was posthumously awarded the Military Cross and, by the French, the Croix de Guerre.

German soldiers had dared to believe that the now discredited "Schlieffen Plan," combined with their own appalling sacrifices, would ultimately bear the fruits of victory. But now, with this latest assault once-again rebuffed, freshly-arriving American divisions deployed on the front, and British tanks smashing through heretofore solid German defenses, all hope vanished, and demoralization, mixed with despondency, spread rapidly among the ranks as well as the entire German command structure. By August, it was the unsavory duty of German General Ludendorff to confront the Kaiser and reluctantly inform him that the War was lost! The "Great War" ended officially on11 Nov 1918.

Comment: In the grand scheme of world history, the selfless gallantry of men like John Massey and his Command is promptly forgotten, except among those of us who study history and humbly wonder where we get such men. Audacious courage like his is surely contagious, as we see, but it can neither be ordered, nor legislated, nor fabricated. It resides quietly in the hearts of true warriors, those among us who are persuaded that there are ideals and principles worthy of being defended to the last.

When the challenge comes, they step forward without hesitation, never doubting, and never looking back. True to their duty. True to their charge. True... to the end.

These heroes make history interesting. Indeed, they make history worth studying!

Axes flash, broadsword swing, Shining armour's piercing ring Horses run with polished shield, Fight the bastards until they yield Midnight mare and blood-red roan, Fight to keep this land your own Sound the horn and call the cry, How Many of Them Can We Make Die?

Follow orders as you're told, Make their yellow blood run cold Fight until you die or drop, A force like ours is hard to stop! Close your mind to stress and pain, Fight until you're no longer sane Let not one damn cur pass us by, How Many of Them Can We Make Die?

Guard your women and children well, Send these bastards back to hell We'll teach them the ways of war, They won't come here any more Use your shield and use your head, Fight till everyone is dead Raise our flag up to the sky, How Many of Them Can We Make Die?

Dawn has broke, the time has come, Move your feet to the marching drum We'll win this war and pay the toll, We'll fight with one in heart and soul Midnight mare and blood-red roan, Fight to keep this land your own Sound the horn and call the cry, How Many of Them Can We Make Die?

/John