Amanda stroked McCallion’s bruised cheek softly.

"It’s alright love, I’ve been hit harder in my time," whispered Bert. He kissed the young Belgian girl on the forehead.

"Why fighting .. with chooms?" asked Amanda in her halting English. McCallion smiled at her pronunciation of chums. It was a pretty perfect imitation of the way the lads spoke in their northern dialect.

"Happen that when the drink is in, the wit is out," he replied.

Amanda looked puzzled.

McCallion hugged the girl and the pair set off into the night, arm in arm.

Back at the estaminet, Shaymen was attempting to outdrink a Canadian from Toronto. Dai and the big Canuck who had sailed into each other with such ferocity 20 minutes earlier were profusely apologising to each other, drunkenly.

Honour, it seemed, had been satisfied by the exchange of blows between the two parties. It had all been over in a matter of seconds thanks to the peacemakers on each side who had pulled the warring soldiers apart.

In the morning there would be sore heads and black eyes.

"Gentlemen," announced Taf. "We should finish the evening with a song. Are there any artistes amongst us?"

From the depths of the smoke, a voice called out: "You’ll be needing a good Irishman then! Go ahead, Sean, give us the ‘Mountains of Mourne’ and show these poor beggars how to sing!"

And Ranger Liam Curran could most definitely sing.

"They say that the front line’s a wonderful sight

"With bullets and shrapnel by day and by night

"Old Gerry he sends us his kindest regards

"With ‘werfers and whizzbangs, he ain’t half a card.

"And I’m here to tell ye, I’d much rather be

"Where the big bleedin’ Prussians can’t get at me!"

The ginger haired Irishman took a bow as the estaminet exploded with applause.

It was a nice way to end an evening.

Bert stood in the doorway of Amanda’s house. He knew his behaviour was being keenly observed by the girl’s mother so he simply kissed her soft cheek.

"I’ll be off back to me billet," he told her. "I’ll be back to see you after we finish up the line."

Amanda threw her arms around him: "I love you Bert. Come back safe, yes?"

There was a raucous shout from the street corner: "Give her a decent kiss McCallion!"

So he did.