Touch and Tenderness, no 5

When we visit a dear friend or member of our family who is very ill or dying, we may have noticed how simply holding their hand can give great comfort. It tells our dear one: “I still love you!”

The following story by an English soldier who fought in the First World War moves me.

“It was 1916 in Flanders. We had tried to over-run the enemy lines, but failed. I was left behind with a bleeding head and a crushed knee. My mate Bill lay fifteen feet away from me, whimpering with pain. There was nothing I could do for him.”

“Suddenly a German officer approached us. He saw Bill, knelt down and offered him a drink from his water bottle.”

“Bill looked at him with feverish eyes and said: ‘Mother, are you here?‘

“The officer bent over him and, as in response, gently stroked his forehead, smoothing away his straggling hair.”

“A smile came on Bill’s face and he visibly relaxed. He looked at the German once more, whispered, ‘Mother!‘ and slumped back. I realised that he had died. The German stretched out his hand once more and tenderly closed his eyes. Then he made a sign of the cross. When he turned to me, I could see he had tears in his eyes. From War Memories.

John Wijngaards

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