MacKintosh Chronicles part three: Great Camfires in the sky (MacKintosh Chronicles part three, #3) (ePub)

Great Campfires in the sky is part three of MacKintosh Chronicles.  The story concentrates mainly on Michael O'Hara.  He represents the seventh generation since Jamie and Hannah.  Following in his father's footsteps, who was posthumous awarded a VC medal for his bravery in the Boer war; he too is awarded the same honour for similar actions in the First World War.

Tanks struck terror into the hearts of the ordinary soldier on the Western Front.  Mike like everyone else was no different.  Whenever these awesome monstrosities were on the move blood would freeze in everyone's veins, but on this one occasion as they advanced towards the enemy lines he was glad of their presence.  The order given for this engagement was for the infantry to shelter behind these monsters as they advanced.  With this order it seemed at long last the military hierarchy of the British army, whose minds were firmly entrenched in a nineteenth century method of warfare had finally come to their senses.  It was as if they'd awakened to the realization to squander any more lives would be their undoing.  As the spent bullets bounced from the shell of the metal monster ahead of them those crouched behind knew they were coming too close for comfort.  Mike in particular was in a quandary at these developments as he was unable to adopt the zigzag movements that had stood in good stead in courting death.  Suddenly a huge explosion caused the metal beast to come to a grinding halt as fire engulfed it.  Through the thick acrid smoke he saw the huge artillery piece that had been responsible for the demise of the now burning tank that had been their protector spitting yet another fiery projectile from its spout.  Having estimated it was no more than two hundred yards distant he let out a defiant scream urging the faltering men accompanying him into a forward charge.