48
THE YPRES TIMES
(if the expression may be allowed) was directed to the home of one of them. I
cannot vouch for the truth of the story, but of course it was quite a possible
arrangement.
Some men there were who never wrote home, either in green or any other colour
of envelope, while others couldn't get enough of them. Accordingly a certain
amount of trafficking went on in stationery. After a time a man would find him
self the possessor of an accumulation of these special covers, and was ready to
barter them away for a few cigarettes or perhaps a slice of bread. For the cost
of a few smokes I frequently came in for some of these Coveted envelopes.
But to return to food. Tea, as I have said, was the meal most enjoyed, with
its cheese and Australian jelly. Of course, there was the old joke that the tea at
times was so weak it couldn't run out of the dixie. But it was no joke at other
timesbreakfast for instancewhen it tasted strange and heavy, as if it had been
infused with oil as well as water; or perhaps the dregs of the previous day's stew
were still in the dixie when the tea was made. After tea a long fast ensuedin
fact, until next morning's breakfastintensified by the night ration of rum, for
rum, while it warmed the blood, created a great hunger. Notwithstanding, the
rum parade was always looked forward to with zest. On cold winter nights it was
a real life-renewer, but as I have said, its one unwelcome effect was to make us very
hungry. But as we went to bed shortly after swallowing the tot," sleep merci
fully silenced the inner man.
The provisioning of the armies both at home and in the field must have been a
huge task, and the story of how it was done would provide a very interesting
narrative.
ONE who was not called on to endure the mud, lice and peril of Flanders
trenches, begs leave, in his initial contribution to the Ypres Times, to speak
to those that were. He speaks as an ex-R.A.M.C. corporalnot one whose
duties took him even to First-Aid Post or Advanced Dressing Station, but back at
Railhead, as sanitary N.C.O., in the unforgettable war years. What, then, his
comrades of the Line may ask, has such a one to say to us what can he express
of value to us whose hardships and dangers far surpassed his
If passionate zeal to comprehend the life of which he touched the fringe, deep
sympathy with those who travailed in it, could bring comprehensive sight, the
writer claims that sight was his. Through all the ordeals of the Salient, with its
glutinous and barbarous winter conditions, its positional disadvantages, its many
crises, the writer strove to visualise and understand what his comrades were
experiencing, and not permit the dimming of the picture by his own safe state.
J. M.
By F. H. Snow (Author of No Names, No Pack-Drill).
