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Wynnum High and Intel-mediate School Page 91
No. 1 section, commanded by Sgt. Railings, was on the right. No. 2
section commanded by Cpl. Robinson was on the left, platoon H.Q. in
between, with three section immediately behind and four section in
reserve. At (H-I) hours the Vickers, under the furious orders of Sgt.
Lindley opened up on the top of the knoll with long bursts (this bit
included for those with strong imagination) forcing the enemy to keep
their heads down and so, at H-hour, one and two sections crossed the
start-line and proceeded up the open ground towards the knoll, followed
by platoon H.Q. which established itself at the head of the re-entrant
along which we had approached the start-line. The first half of the
movement was swift, as the hill was blasted with Vickers fire, but when
the Vickers cut out at (H-l). the Brens gave fire while the remainder
advanced, and vice versa. By this time, we had several casualties, but,
leaving them in the hands of the medics, we hurled smoke-grenades,
screamed "charge”, stood up. and blazed our way through to the summit
and shot up any of the s creaming infidels who did not surrender, while
three sections passed right through and took up a defensive position on
the far side of the hill, and support section took up a similar position
on the near side.
Gravel Knoll was now ours, so we immediately set to place ourselves
in a defensive position, while prisoners and wounded were taken back
to company H.Q.

Winter

Season quiet as a morning
Which only wind disturbs, adorning
Gentle days of golden worth
And many hours of pleasing mirth.

No insect hordes invade our peace
And we may take a respite, lease
Of time from summer’s fearful hour—
The time when all may feel the power
Of heat and breathless want of rain.
Till winter comes to bring again,
Perhaps, dark clouds to break the drought
That compassed lands and towns about.
A kinder season, this, some cold
We feel, and falling leaves behold,
Flowers fading, waves white-topped, but all
No hardness shows, and Winter’s thrall
Is gentle, kind and mannerly,
Imposing not. The mirth we see
Is grave, considered, born of reason—
My winter is a pleasant season.

VIVIEN CHANTLER, FORM 6A.