Runner.

This is coolbert:

Runner = "A runner was a military courier, a foot soldier responsible for carrying messages during war. Runners were very important to military communications, before telecommunications became commonplace."

During that period of the Great War [WW1] the mission of runner being most important. Radio communications not reliable or secure and the buried copper wire of field telephones often cut by the constant shelling as occurred on he battlefield of the period.

Men-a-foot specially designated and carrying messages to and fro on the battlefield. That mission of runner quite hazardous as you might well understand. And a mission not totally relegated to the delivery of messages.

"Trench Runners. Clearly identifiable - at least in daylight - by the red arm-bands fixed around their left forearm, trench runners (or messengers) were drawn from both a specialized and everyday background.  The function of a runner was not simply to bear messages from one area or command unit to another, although this featured prominently"

Read here and here further the mission, duties, function, experence of the runner WW1:

Comments:

* Red arm bands on the left forearm war so the runner could be indentified and not arrested by military police as a shirker or malingerer. Or worse shot dead on the spot by an officer. A troop running to the rear perceived as a a troop deserting in the face of the enemy.

* Mission of the runner as was mentioned not strictly relegated to the carrying of messages. Used also as ground guides. New units being brought into the forward trenches during a period of darkness not wanting to get lost. Ground guides of the runner type familiar with the lay-of-the-land needed.

* Casualties among runners exceedingly high. My thought has been 95 % of runners a casualty during WW1. This seems to be not correct. It is reputed stretcher bearers their rate of inury the highest, 80 %.

* Nor must we forget that most famous/infamous runner of them all. Adolf Hitler. Decorated twice for bravery, the equivalent of the American Bronze star awarded to the man. It has been noted however that Hitler functioned as a regimental runner, not so terribly exposed to direct fire, even if wounded severely once and gassed also with temporary injury.

Runner anyone?

coolbert.