The 85th (3rd London) Field Ambulance
Week-End at Ypres.
76
THE YPRES TIMES
warning there was a rushing noise, with a rising and falling note for all the world
like an iron trolley careering along some aerial switchback. Look out," some
body cried; and many of the men dropped flat. One or two got behind a tree. One
dived under an oil sheet, while others flung themselves into the nearest dug-out.
The shell swished overhead and smacked right into a tall tree, exploding against it
with a cr-r-rump that severed it like a stick of celery, forcing it vertically upwards
for a moment before it heeled over and crashed against one ot its fellows, remaining
entangled by its branches in an attitude of drunken abandon.
The effect of this veritable bolt from the blue was remarkable. Gone was the
air of security. Gone was some of the shaving water. Gone was that air of
boredom. Everybody was smiling, cracking jokes, and waiting for the next shell,
which would surely come within the next few seconds. The strafe lasted about
twenty minutes. Most of the shells passed over the dug-outs, although one had
bashed in the roof of an empty one, smothering all those in the vicinity with a layer
of black earth. Life became normal againvery nearlyfor at the back of
everybody's mind now was the feeling that the wood was "spotted"; that the
hitherto happy hunting ground might at any moment of the night or day be swept
by a gust of shell fire, and one could not always hope to be so lucky as to-day.
A beauty spot 'henceforth spoilt.
Overhead an aeroplane droned towards the German lines, whilst all around it
broke great wads of cotton wool, curling and drifting in continuous line, until the
hum of the propeller became faint in the distance, and little wisps of white gossamer
melted slowly in the deep blue sky.
F. J.
ON Friday evening, May 9th, a party comprising old members of the above
Field Ambulance met'at St. Pancras Station, preparatory to spending a week
end at Ypres and making a tour of the battlefields of that sector.
The arrangements for the tour were kindly undertaken by the Ypres League,
and we were fortunatefin having Capt. G. E. de Trafford, M.C., Secretary of thé
League, with us during the entire trip.
It was a typical English spring night; rain commenced to fall as soon as we
had settled ourselves comfortably in the reserved coaches, and the L.M.S., intent
on giving value for money, took us on a circuitous route through the more cultured
suburbs of North London.
Came Tilbury, and, thanks to the large cornflower which each one wore in his
buttonhole, the journey through the various sheds to the boat was one swift walk
of joy.
We boarded a French boat, and we found the absence of anything resembling
maritime organization rather strange, but, being old campaigners, we were soon
comfortably stowed away in bunks, where, having deposited our kit, we sought
out the smoking-room and sat up half the night yarning, too excited to sleep.
The North Sea was in one of its best moods, hardly more than a slight swell
disturbing our equanimity; in fact, so smooth was it that one member, who in the
ordinary way experiences that sinking feeling at the mere sight of a Belle
