104
The Ypres Times.
I afterwards heard the hour, and it corresponded with the moment of my operation
on board the hospital ship that brought me home. I had written down in my note
book the few words that the surgeon told me I had spoken when under chloroform. They
were You stop here, Tom, while I ride forward with the General." Poor fellow,
I had always striven to keep him as far as possible out of danger, only to have him killed
in my absence.
My servant was with him to the end. He wrote that Tom was in a stable with the
horses when it happened, and that he did not suffer much.
We remained at the inn nearly all that day. The road was greatly congested with
our transport and with the men of the 87th (French) Territorial Division, which had come
up to support us. No further British troops could be heard of as being within reach of
us. I think it was put in orders next morning that our Division had come into line with
the remainder of the Expeditionary Force, and that British troops were now on our
right and left. No doubt they were, but we received no direct support until the 24th
(this being the 16th), when our line had been badly broken, and matters were looking
desperate.
While we were at the inn a Belgian armoured-car, which was attached to our Division,
brought in a captured Uhlan. This car was commanded by a little bearded man, whom
I mentally christened The Gnome," and who never went out without bagging at least
one prisoner. The number of Germans he killed was considerable. The prisoner whom
he brought in on this occasion was given exactly the same food and drink as we had,
and later on sent into Ypres hospital in a motor-car. Off another Uhlan prisoner I
secured a wonderful map of Northern France and Belgium, all covered over with tiny
conventional signs (for wells, forges, barns, etc., etc.,), showing how thoroughly prepared
the Germans were for this campaign.
The Gnome was clad from head to foot in black oilskins, and wore a sou'-wester
hat. He knew no English, and not much French, and his pluck and disregard for danger
were amazing. With him was a callow British subaltern, as unlike him as possible, and
a chauffeur who dwelt in the bottom of the car, and knew his business very well.
I was to have a ride on that car that night, and the manner of its happening was
this
While we were yet at the inn it was reported to me that certain Mess stores were
required from Ypres. I took one of the motors in for them, and when I returned I found
that our Headquarters had been shifted. I knew that they were to be established that
night in one of the numerous chateaux on the Ypres-Menin road, but which of them
exactly I did not know. So when I had come racing back in the dark and enquired of
a sentry at the gate of the first one whether it housed Divisional Headquarters, having
received an answer in the affirmative, I went in. The chateau was occupied by Head
quarters, right enough, but they were those of an Artillery Brigade Donald Fwas
one of the officers). I had incautiously omitted to tell the chauffeur to wait, and when
I came out again he was gone.
So there was nothing for it biit to walk. I had on a heavy greatcoat (for the night
was bitterly cold), and had furthermore to carry the box of Mess stores which I had pro
cured in Ypres. Flent me his soldier servant, and off we trudged along the dark,
muddy road. After we had gone about three-quarters of a mile two very bright lights
hove into view far down the road, coming towards us. I stood in the middle of the road
and hailed them. It turned out to be the Belgian armoured-car containing The
Gnome," the driver, and the British subaltern. They were making their way back to
the inn, thinking that our Headquarters were still where they had left them. I told
them that these had moved on to some chdteau on the side of the road, and that we
