Dispatched to Battle After Delay
In a small town, two young men named Gerry and Colm, fresh out of school, made a bold decision to enlist for the war. With a burning desire to be part of the fight and to defend their country, they embarked on a journey that would challenge their beliefs and test their resolve.
The commanding officer, recognising their eagerness, called Gerry and Colm to his office. He informed them that they would be taken to a ship the next day, bound for the battlefields. The officer emphasised the importance of discipline and moral code, stating that soldiers have dignity, a value system, honor, camaraderie, and the ability to show restraint.
Excited by the prospect of learning how to kill, fly planes, be sharpshooters, and drive tanks, Gerry and Colm were given uniforms, guns, and marched through town to trucks and armored cars. However, their anticipation was short-lived as they found shelter on the beach and fired at the hill without knowing if their bullets hit anyone.
As they waited, paratroopers arrived from above, and unknown to many troops on the ground, V-E Day orders were being reshuffled. The attack lasted for ten minutes, and the hilltops around the beach were bombarded. The enemy could be waiting to open fire as they ran from the ship to the beach.
Once the bombing had finished, the troops made their way up to the hill to survey the devastation left by the air force. Dead bodies were scattered everywhere, a grim reminder of the horrors of war. It was then that Gerry and Colm realised that the fun was over, and they faced a serious job to be done.
Colm defined a soldier as brave, strong, and someone who refuses to show fear. Gerry added that a soldier stands strong and fights with all his might. Yet, the commanding officer expressed surprise at their eagerness to enlist, suggesting they might be seeking action or glory. He advised them to accept everything that surrounds them night and day, preparing them for the harsh realities ahead.
"Sent To War Too Late" by Paul McCann is a narrative about two young soldiers who enlist to fight in a war but arrive at the front just as the conflict is ending. The story explores themes of timing, the impact of war on youth, and the bittersweet nature of their experience. Through their perspective, the narrative reflects on the personal costs of war, the loss of innocence, and the complexities of duty and sacrifice when the anticipated confrontation never materializes for them.
- In the midst of preparations for their deployment, Gerry and Colm found themselves caught up in 'general-news' about V-E Day orders being reshuffled, poseing a potential threat to their safety.
- As they delve deeper into the realities of war, Gerry and Colm grapple with the idea that the 'war-and-conflicts' they are part of may have already seen its peak, as suggested in the book "Sent To War Too Late".
