ONE-ON-ONE INTERVIEW WITH:
JAMES CORCORAN
WORLD WAR I VETERAN
World War I is mostly remembered today for the bloody trenches of Western Europe, but it was a global event, both in where it was fought and who fought it. From their homes around the globe, soldiers such as Corcoran came together to fight for their nations--- even with the risk of sudden death. In this interview, Corcoran speaks of the arranged attack on Bulgaria.
What was the war like?
"We was up in the mountains .. the trenches only came up to your knees, and no protection at all; and there was little food, a biscuit, a bit of jam and some tea, maybe...twice a day some, three times a day some, mostly once; when they could get it to us. Just enough to keep the life in you. We had to be looking out always; you had to be on your knees, too, for that. No sleep—o’ course you dozed a bit now and then, but mostly you had to be watchin’.”
Upon watching the Bulgarians, what did you feel at that very moment?
"We felt something coming,” he said, tersely; and just for an instant I felt what those men, a yard apart in the knee-high trenches that were no protection at all, had felt..knew they were getting ready for something. [Then the Bulgarians attacked and] we was fagged-no life in us left. And then they were three to one, and we each were a yard apart. the only trouble is--they don't understand you. And they won't"
World War I soldiers hidden in trenches for protection.