The Ypres Times.
37
course of the War might have been altered by those inches. If I remember rightly, the
first trains of the Division arrived some nine hours late.
Few people know what a race it wasall the officers, X.C.O.'s, servants, cooks and
policemen of the Second Army Schools were indeed putting theory into practice around
Strazeele.
Just a handful of men, on whom the safety of the Salient and the Channel Ports
depended, saved us.
They were determined to hold on till they heard the whistle of the trains bringing
relief and they did so. All honour to them.
From the moment Walker and his men arrived we never looked back. It was the
end. The Boche onslaught had expended itself. He made a big bid and he paid a big
price for his false strategy. His gamble had failed. His High Command had allowed
itself to be drawn off its main objective. History had won again.
It had been a wonderful month. Starting from the onslaught on the Portuguese,
we saw our splendid regiments and batteries, still suffering from their gruelling in the
South, manfully trying to stop this great rush. Driven from our old landmarks, only
to rally on others. Fighting side by side with our gallant French Alliesa French Army
actually incorporated with us. Our Belgian Allies stoutly holding to their position on
the Yser.
The area between us and the sea was getting smaller daily. The process of trying to
stop gaps here one moment and there the next with totally insufficient means was not an
easy one.
The enemy made a great effort. He took a great deal off us.Position after position.
There was no time for sentiment as Messines, Keunnel, Bailleul, etc., all went, and we
were even forced to leave Cassel, except as an Advanced Headquarters, when Hazebrouck
was so seriously threatened. As I have shown above, all hands were in, including the
servants and cooks of the Schools.
The relief trains arrived. The match was over. We had won. He had failed. The
Channel Ports were saved and our glorious Flag still flew over Ypres.
There was not a man amongst those gallant troops who had fought through that
month who was not only proud of the victory gained but also glad for the sake of the
Commander who had directed them throughout.
The way those men fought against odds. The way they came again time after time.
Our left clinging on to Ypres like grim death. Our centre pierced time and againthe
terrific struggle round Meteren and the magnificent fighting of the 4th Guards Brigade
and others in the neighbourhood of the Forêt de Nieppe, Estaire, Merville and La Motte.
How I wish I had my old notes and maps so that I could mention and pay tribute to all
those splendid troops.
Lord Plumer's personality permeated the whole Army. Everyone knew and loved
him. Though we were all glad and proud at having crushed the enemy's effort by 9th
May, there was one very sad man in the Second Army. I had been appointed Deputy
Chief of the Imperial General Staff to another great friend, the late Field Marshal Sir Henry-
Wilson, some weeks previously, but had been allowed to remain with my old Chief through
this crisis. As it was now over I had to go. My long and happy association was over.
I was very sad at leaving the old Second Army. What I owe to its Commander can never
be told, nor can what I owe to every officer, N.C.O. and man in that Army for their
goodness to me at all times. The privilege of serving under such a Commander through
such momentous times can never be described in words. A man who is always the same
day or night, always approachable, always cheerful, always kind and always just and always
sound is not only my appreciation of him but that of all who served under him.
After I left him I served another wonderful apprenticeship under Sir Henry Wilson
