The Ypres Times.
107
artillery preparation had not at all shaken the nerves of the Germans, and the two British
and four Indian regiments who led the way were mown down by the fire of rifles, machine
guns, and artillery of every calibre. The slaughter was cruel, but resolutely they made
their way forward. It seems that the Germans were expected to walk into Ypres that
day, and indeed there was little enough to stop them. But whenever you sprung a
surprise on Fritz he would pause while the staff did a bit of thinking. Here he was being
attacked, and attacked by Indians who ought to have been some 50 miles awayan
obvious case for consideration. So he stayed where he was and lost his last chance of
walking in.
As the attack drew near to the German trenches the gas was let out at them. The
left wing suffered most, and there a Subadar of the famous 57th Wylde's Rifles F.F.
won the V.C. He was a Pathan officer named Mir Dast (pronounced Mere Dust, and
of course he was nicknamed by his British friends Sheer Mud.") Though gassed himself
and wounded, he rallied a party and established himself in a position in No Man's Land
where he held out all the afternoon and night. In addition he carried in eight other
wounded officers and so saved their lives. This gallant officer survived to be received
by his King-Emperor and afterwards to see the rocky hills of his beloved Frontier once
more.
The men of Manchester, the men of the Punjab, the men of Connaught, and the
men of the Indian FrontierBolton, Kangra, Rawalpindi and Roscommon, pressed
forward in gallant rivalry. It was men against every machine which frightfulness has
devised. To take the German trenches was an impossibility, but the British line was
pushed forward and the Germans were held back. For four days the Lahore Division,
sometimes alone, sometimes in conjunction with other troops, pressed against the German
lines. The enemy never advanced one inch during that time, and by the end of it the
defence, bad been-rjejorganized -and -Ypres- was. safe—
General Sir H. Smith-Dorrien, commanding the Second Army, wrote to the Commander
of the Indian Corps that the Lahore Division though only partially successful in wrenching
ground from the enemy, effectually prevented his further advance and thus ensured the
safety of the town of Ypres."
Then the division was sent back to the 1st Army to restin the battle of Festubert.
WAR SHIELDS FOR MODERN WARRIORS.
Heraldry for many centuries has preserved, by means of a beautiful
convention, the badges worn by the warriors of the Middle Ages. But the
pride with which the descendants of ancient families display their armorial
coats should be as nothing to the pride with which the families of our soldiers
should show their insignia, the badges and ribbons which they won and wore,
and which form an imperishable language in which their deeds are enshrined.
All the numberless signs and tokens, crest and badges, forms and colours
used by the Army, Navy and Air Service are essentially heraldic in character,
and as such can be combined to produce shields of great beautyshields, too,
which are easily intelligible to service men.
In the illustration the Arms of a Captain, R.E., the upper part of the
shield is divided into three partswhite, purple and white, the colours of the
Military Cross; the lower part represents the 1914-15 Starred, white and
blue with wavy lines the three stars for his rank are placed on the coloured
divisions, his two service chevrons on the white parts of the M.C. ribbon.
Then, too, in the lower portion of the shield is shown the patriarchal cross
from the arms of Ypres, telling of service in the Salient."
On payment of 3/2 (registration fee, with postage) members will be
supplied with an exclusive design in colours embodying a record of their
service. For particulars, write to the Secretary, Ypres League, 23, Henrietta
Street, Cavendish Square, London, W.
