The Cornhill Magazine (vol. XLII, no. 251 new series, May 1917)

When two long‑time city clerks hear the call to join the New Armies, they quickly decide to enlist together, letting a vivid illustration of cavalry‑driven artillery steer their choice. Jack Duncan dreams of riding, while Hugh Morrison hopes his education will suit the technical demands of the guns, and they settle on the Royal Artillery. Their enthusiasm carries them from a modest recruiting office to the cramped barracks of basic training.

After months of drills, horse‑handling and learning to operate heavy pieces, the pair—now sergeants and leaders of their own guns—embark for the Western Front. There they experience the relentless rhythm of trench warfare: digging gun pits, enduring rain‑soaked mud, firing and being shelled in equal measure. The story follows their gradual adaptation to the brutal reality of war, hinting at a particular encounter that underscores the sameness and danger faced by many artillery batteries.