THE YPRES TIMES
69
had arrived at St. Omer on a visit to the British Army three days previously, died
of pneumonia, due to a chill contracted on a visit to the Indian troops. Foch had
always been a deep admirer of Lord Roberts, and had visited him in England before
the war. Only the day before he died the Field-Marshal had called on Foch at
Cassel, and in conversation with some of the French staff had said to them: You
have a great General." On November 17th Foch paid his last tribute to his veteran
friend when he attended the funeral service at St. Omer as the representative of the
French Army.
On November 29th the King arrived in France for his first visit to his troops,
and Foch was very proud when he heard that he was to receive the G.C.B. from the
King's hands. On December 1st the King sent a message to say that he would
come and thank me at Cassel. I replied that I would come to him at St. Omer. He
thanked me for the help which I had rendered him, and in giving me the Order of
the Bath he told me that it was the greatest honour he could bestow on me."
Many interesting points emerge from a study of the work of Marshal Foch in
Flanders. It is not always recognized how much the successful Belgian defence
of the line of the Yser, and the consequent frustration of the German coastal move
towards the Channel Ports, were due to the skilful manner in which he supervised
the situation at its most critical phase. By protecting Dunkerque and Calais in this
region, he safeguarded the shortest and surest lines of communication with England,
and deferred one of the gravest threats against Great Britain herself." And who
shall underrate the strength and stimulus which he infused, into the liaison between
the higher commands of the British, French and Belgian Armies by his own
indomitable will and courage throughout the blackest periods of their united efforts?
The debt Great Britain owed to him was not forgotten. For when, in February,
1918, he was about to assume his task as President of the Inter-allied Military
Committee, Mr. Lloyd George voiced the gratitude of England in these terms
We English will never forget that in Flanders, when our army found itself face
to face with the greatest difficulties, General Foch succoured it with the fullest
resources of men and energy. If it had been one of our own Generals he could not
have done more for us."
Ferdinand Foch has won an immortal place in the hearts of English people,
and his memory will be more and more enhanced with the passing of the years.
Very early in the war he learnt to appreciate, with no ordinary esteem, the courage
and endurance of the British troops. And what he witnessed of their great qualities
in the First Battle of Ypres he saw in an ever increasing degree in the last phases
of the war.
Deep down in his heart he had a great affection for English folk and English
character, and it remained unaltered by all the political vicissitudes of the post-war
period. Not long before he passed away he is stated to have said: I feel sure I
have served England as though she were my own country."
But no account of him could be complete without some reference to the simple
Christian faith which dominated all his life. It was this faith which sustained him
dayf by day under his overwhelming burdens and responsibilities throughout the war,
so that wherever his headquarters might be situated the simple peasants grew
accustomed to seeing in the village church the kneeling figure of the Marshal.
We have done well to erect to his great memory the beautiful replica of the
Cassel memorial which stands in Grosvenor Gardens. For, in the words of M.
Poincaré, spoken at the last obsequies in Paris, we owe it to the memory of
Foch, we owe it to those who mourn him here not to leave in the shadows
any trait of his great character, but to show to all men what he was."
A. Macnamara.
