With The Immortal Seventh Division

THROUGH

suspiciously as to our business; then appeared more or less clad figures, who gazed anxiously at the cloaked men standing at the door (for the Germans lay at the back of every mind). However, the talismanic charm of 'Englishmen' did wonders. It was 4.30 a.m. before I tumbled into an extremely comfortable bed, and had barely laid my head upon the pillow-so it seemed-when a great knocking at the door aroused me with a start from vivid dreams of home, as an orderly entered the room with the alarming statement that the column

imes doze, as we marched along on our twenty-five mile trek. At the midday halt, a little diversion enlivened the proceedings in the shape of pulling two bogged horse

re crammed with terror-stricken and most wretched-looking refugees; until, some four miles out, we lighted upon the most filthy and forsaken place to be found on the map of civilization-Steene. The houses were so vile and malodorous, that it was with great reluctanc

ate in securing a stretcher, and dossed in a transport wagon; a tired man might have a worse

ore comfortable in the way of a billet, and had secured three rooms at the worthy Burgomaster's for the O.C., Mr. Jaffray and mys

ce more we moved on. I felt that I could ent

old Duke

en thous

em up to the

ched them

y were up, t

were down, t

were half-wa

neither

ching with their usual swinging step, I was amused to hear a Belgian woman ask her friend, 'And who are those?' pointing to the Highlanders. 'Oh

universal love of his men by his gallant conduct and splendid ministry). He had somehow or other lost his Brigade, and being thus str

ry and tired we slouched along, until we came to the Monastery of St. Xavier, at St. Michel, some two miles out of the city. Never shall I forget the kindness extended to us by the lay brothers; especia

, in front of the huge fire, we toasted our benumbed extremities and dried our sodden clothing. After such a night's rest, as only comes to fagged-out men, we awoke to a golden-tinted autumn morning, which brought to us the joy of living; and once more we felt ready for the onward trek. I have since learned that the Division was originally destined to relieve Antwerp, but the sudden fall of the city set the

historically known as the 'first battle of Ypres.' But meantime it may be of

I thought that I had a chance of distinguishing myself by capturing a spy. Orders had been issued, stating that a certain 'Captain Walker,' posing as a R.A.M.C. officer, was visiting our troops, and picking up stray crumbs of information; should such a person be encountered he was to be immediately arrested. I had just turned in, when amid the babel of conversation which came from downstairs, I caught the name 'Walker.' Slipping quietly down the ladde

; which was apparently heartily joined in by those attending. The opportunities for

current wh

ng our

mbellish the festal board of the mess, and thus win the gratitude of my always hungry brother officers, when, through an open door, I caught sight of fowls in a backyard. I promptly jumped off my horse, and entered into negotiations with the owners of the chicken run, which speedily resulted in the decapitat

t straw. In the early morning, in company with Mr. Peel, I enjoyed a brief stroll in the neighbourhood. In the course of our walk we passed one of those small wayside cha

people who had assembled to welcome that which they reg

and who, by their innate courtesy and sympathy, accentuate the oneness of the human family. When a country is under martial law one cannot, of course, take 'no' for an answer in applying for a billet, and therefore, in the case of Belgium, one made the demand with the authority of 'in the king's name,' which invariably brought about the desire

stirring sight to see the naval armoured train dash along, seeking for a pot shot at the enemy

e place. The gabled houses carried one's imagination into the long ago; whilst the glorious Cloth Hall of the eleventh century, backed up by the equ

eir wont, had helped themselves very liberally to what they fancied. Many of the shopkee

whom had been wounded, but as the owners of considerable property in the city and the neighbourhood, they were anxious as to what the future would bring. Their worst fears have been realized, and I am afraid they are among the g

d thrown up the first line of trenches in semi-circular

of the prisoners had a very scared look, for we learned afterwards that they had been told that we cut our prisoners'

s' to these men; even to the extent of sharing his rations with the

ll to my lot, and which I henceforth used, and regarde

German advance, left his trench to reconnoitre, and after a fruitless search was returning to his men in the thick early morning mist, when a sentinel, ignorant of his ha

s, my unit moved out to its Brigade, which occupied th

t but to stick it. In a wood close by, the enemy had machine guns, supported by a body of Uhlans. Disturbing sniping took place at intervals through the night, which rendered the bivouac

quarters to inquire if there were any funerals requiring my attention, I found the whole place in extreme excitement; Uhlans were advancing in force. Every hedgerow and wall was lined with our men; the scar

e Uhlans, and gave a zest not often met with to the three or four miles which had to be traversed. Never did I strain my eyes more

ly moved to Gheluvelt, which was then threatened by a Ge

ty and fear, which it was impossible to remove, for the shells

about all day awaiting results. Towards evening I thought it wise to get a sleep, and so turned in about five o'clock. During these days of constant anxiety, owing to

was most splendidly equipped in every respect. The pictures, statuary and furniture were in keeping with the outward appearance of the place. It was interesting to notice the different manner of dealing with other people's property in vogue with the British,

the Scots Guards, to bury Sergeant Wilson, of Lord Esmé Gordon's Company. On reaching the line I found the Battalion about to advance into action in extended order, and the man had been hurriedly buried. On my

pleasant proximity to the house. I well remember next morning, because the Germans had got the range to a nicety, and the otherwise enjoyable place was rendered unbearable by the crash of shells. So unhealthy grew the position, that the transport was moved a mile awa

homesteads and villages, which to the thoughtful mind denoted the awful destruction and

halted on the roadside, some two or three miles west of Gheluvelt. It was pouring with rain as we ate our meal of cold rations; we could not even enjoy a comforting smoke, as the lighting of a match would have been certain to draw the fire of our vig

small remuneration, as he and his wife had decided to stay up; accordingly, we were shown into an exceedingly small room, some eight feet square, in which was a bed the covering of which made one shudder to look at; but any port in a storm; and we accordingly doubled up the best way we could on a bed some two feet too short for us. As we vainly tried to fall asleep, my batman suddenly turned up,-how he found our quarters will always be a mystery to me-with the news that the column had moved off to some place which he could not pronounce. I showed him my map and asked him if he recognized any name in the locality, but finding that he was as much at sea as to the destination of the unit as I was, I determined that it was useless to attempt to explore that part of Belgium in the darkness of a soaking night; so stowing my servant away in the corner of the kitchen, we did our best to get a few hours' sleep. In the first grey of the dawn we arose and ate a little black bread and very salt bacon, washed down with some execrable coffee, then leading

place was a slaughter-house; never have I seen so ghastly a sight. The doctors, with their coats off and shirt sleeves rolled up, look

e saying that some one must get through to Ypres, to stop the transport that was about to come out, and also to warn the major of the serious conditi

shrapnel burst some twenty feet from me, with an explosion which almost lifted me from the ground. The door before which I sat, and the front of the cottage, were liberally studded with bullets and pieces of the casing, but in a most providential manner I was untouched. Very quickly I completed my change of boots, and

he approach of a shell, but he displayed no more concern than a momentary quiver as it burst. As for me I could only place myself in God's hands, and well remember how, as each shell approached, I repeated that comforting word from

leeing for their lives, and as I got out of the range o

down and fell into a deep sleep for four hours. I sup

d hard there for the next day or two. Many were t

ters from home, and the first opportunity I stole away int

d through my hands. Of course there were many funerals to conduct, and in connexion with the funeral arrangements and the s

ttractive boy. Such a task awakened the greatest interest in my heart, for sad as the ceremony was, I keenly felt the privilege of rendering this last act of tender duty to a young prince so universally beloved. One of his men, in relating the manner of his heroic death, afterwards said to me, 'I loved him, sir, as a brother.' The funeral, which was attended

from the Front, and the Menin road into Yp

e, severely crushing my left leg. I had been taken in a Staff car to the 6th casualty clearing station and attended to, but the injured limb grew steadily worse. In the course of the afternoon, to my great joy,

the ambulance, came up with a cheery 'Hallo, padré! what's up? Last time I saw

at the Front, where lives momentarily tou

hen suddenly a knock at the door placed me on the alert. My first thought was that the Germans had got through, accordingly I made no reply; presently a gruff voice said, 'An orderly, sir,' and I cr

akfast was quickly disposed of an

s, decided that I must go into hospital, for wounded men are not m

Moores, D.A.D.M.S., came up in their car, and learning my condition, very ki

s station, where the R.T.O. most ki

h me, and committed to me an urgent telegram for his wife. In the course of the morning he had been arrested as a spy; and seemed very amused at the uncommon experience. At 6 p.m. I was pl

irst time one came into touch with those splendid women, literally angels of mercy, the nursing sisters. Nev

night, we didn't reach Boulogne until 3 p.m. on the Mon

out to leave. Accordingly, with some twenty or thirty other officers, and a large number of

could not help being struck with the ludicrousness of our condition. Bespattered with mud; filthy in appearance; beards of several

ere perfect. It was almost worth being injured to lie in such a

with by medical men, and everything done

and the word and act of sympathy does not come much to the surface of men's lives, yet, when o

tary hospital (The Royal Victoria and West Hants), of which I have been chaplain for many

and sweetness of 'home.' Truly the English classic song, 'Home, sweet Home, there is no place li

ard permitted me to resume my duties with the British Expeditionary Force. My further

COME OF