178 THE YPRES TIMES
some distance away and although every man had his mask ready, none had yet put them
on. The clang ol the gongs faded into silence and for a short interval there was a
weird and unnatural stillness. All were wondering just how efficient the masks would
prove to be. Officers were giving instructions, and endeavouring to appear nonchalant,
suddenly the silence was brokenfrom the direction of the Sergeant's dug-out came
a long drawn out wail, a blubbering sound and another wail and for a moment as
the sounds rapidly approached the situation was tense. Then Sergeant Rawlings
appeared round a traverse wearing his mask, it appeared that in the scramble of the
alarm, Rawlings could not find his own mask, someone having knocked it into the
floor of the dug-out together with the only candle. All this happened in in a very
short time, and our Artillery suddenly going into action, having received word of
the expected attack, rather spoilt the effect. Subsequently a patrol reported that
the gas was merely a very heavy mist being stirred by the slight morning breeze,
but its formation and the fact that numerous 'Very' lights gave it an ominous colour,
we, who had not experienced the real thing can be excused for our alarm. Of course
the Germans did not know what it was all about, and no doubt thinking the Artillery
fire presaged an attack from our side, they retaliated with everything they had, there
by making the ensuing few hours very unpleasant.
The 4th edition of the gas mask was practically the same as its predecessor, ex
cept that the eye-pieces were made of glass and had metal frames, also tubes of paste
for use in preventing misting of the glass were issued, and as Johnnie remarked, "They
tystes a ell of a lot better In due course the respirator with which all are familiar
arrived, and a very efficient appliance it proved during our first experience with that
very hideous weapon, poison gas. It was rumoured that Sergt. Rawlings, after his
second experience with mask No 3, proceeded at the first opportunity to the Quarter
master's store and tried on every mask until he found one that was reasonably silent
and had a well behaved valve.
A word to the younger generation who may read this narrative Although
war undoubtedly had its lighter moments, they were but moments in those months,
years, of courage, filth, suffering and utter discomfort. As an example of the horrors
of that inhuman weapon, gas '.—Living in Western Canada, I come in almost daily
contact with some of the survivors of that debacle at Ypres twenty years ago. Every
year a few of them pass on to join their comrades whose bodies lie in the cemeteries
around Ypres.
Those who still linger on, constantly suffer in one way or another, and their
injured lungs are and ideal breeding ground for tubercolosis, a disease that has al
ready carried off many and gained a foothold in others. There are men who are tor
tured periodically with horrible gas boils, or suffer from dreadful coughs, dizzyness
or fainting spells. In short, all these men gave their lives in April, 1915, for they have
certainly not lived, since.
So much for gas. If space permitted, I would like to tell of the hundreds of thous
ands of other sufferers who receive no pensions and were not even seriously wounded, and
yet their spirit, the joy of life, was literally burned out of them. If the Ypres League im
presses upon only a few of the new generation, the debt they owe to their fathers, uncles,
aye and mothers who spent dreadful years of anxiety waiting for an almost daily expected
telegram bearing the tidings that another loved one was gone, and further, if the
League passes on the spirit of remembrance to the youngsters, then God bless it. There
will come a time when a practical remembrance will be sorely needed ceremonies
held on anniversaries of an almost forgotten Great War will become rites with but
little significance. It is then the remaining survivors of the war will have to look for
help, (and many will need it) to the few upon whom the Ypres League and hindred
organizations have passed on a spirit of genuine and grateful remembrance.
J.S.G.
