If you are looking for a worthwhile movie experience this winter, look no further than the stunning World War I movie 1917.
While the film focuses on the British perspective on the Western Front, I did find a connection to Pennsylvania’s anthracite coal fields. It came in the form of a scene near the end of the film (no spoilers, I promise!)
In the film, there is a scene in a “casualty clearing station” or first aid station near the front-line trenches. The scene reveals the shocking devastation caused by machine guns, artillery, and small arms fire on World War I battlefields. This scene was quite illuminating to me, as previously on Wynning History, I wrote about a doctor from Tower City, Pennsylvania who served with the British Expeditionary Force in such a place.
In the blog post from March 2018, “Schuylkill County native became a British war hero in March 1918,” I examined how Dr. Daniel E. Berney earned a medal for merit while serving in a first aid station at the front lines during a German offensive in early 1918.
This line from a letter Dr. Berney wrote to his brother Tim in Tower City struck me as particularly poignant:
When the Germans made their first drive on March 21st., they hit the British line where I had been assigned as Medical Officer. My corps never did know when to quit, and when we saw our line slowly pressed back I leaving the helpless wounded fail prisoner to the Huns, I guess it was that inner stuff of the Schuylkill miner boy which bubbled out, boys. [An] American never deserts a comrade. What say you British?
“Aye, aye, sir. Come on Doctor.”
All day they shuttled with helpless burdens from the front line to the first aid station as fast as [possible.] It was a first-aid, a lift, a lean, a carry, a stretcher.
Tim: it was a slaughter house Hell till 5 o’clock, then we also got caught. As a fresh row of German machine guns swept back our ranks one stabbed me in the thigh. First Sergeant, none braver nor more loyal ever lived, grabbed me as I fell and bore me on his shoulders; second bullet knocked off the heel of my shoe; a third grazed my knee and a 4th, oh horrors, split open the Sergeant’s helmet.
Two stretcher-bearers saw us fall equally fearless and faithful they rolled me on their stretcher and started back for a shell hole, both were dead before we got back there.
I dragged myself in till night fainted at 10 o’clock started to drag myself to the rear; arrived alone at the dressing station 2 miles back at 4 o’clock next morning, exhausted, blood-empty, but living…
Read the full post here
The scene in 1917 brings such a first aid station to life. But that’s just one short scene in a massive film that endeavors to put the horror and hopelessness of the First World War to life.
I hope you’ll consider checking out the film – and when you do, drop a comment below and let us know what you think!
Featured Image: A scene from the film 1917.
Wynning History 