The Ypres Times.
125
The A.D.C., immensely relieved, proceeded to deliver his message about the objec
tionable Tanks communiqué.
H.
M.I.7. War Office.
Your F.291. 23.2.17. Claw can come out 3rd to 6th proximo. C-in-C absent till
7th. Send plan oi tour.
B.G.I.
Robinson, Visitors' Chateau, Rollencourt.
Addition to party 3rd to 6th, B. Claw, author and publicist. Hartley conducting
officer. Wishes visit Munsters and Connaught Rangers.
G.S.O.3. I.C. G.H.Q.
III.
Apparently, rumours of the projected visit of Mr. Claw spread through a number of
Headquarters messes. Major Daniels of the 34th Brigade in his book, The Vimy
Campaign (1920) mentions that it was common talk amongst the officers in his brigade,
and that it led to high words one night at dinner at which the General made a remark
uncomplimentary to the distinguished dramatist, but effectually stopped the discussion.
On the morning of the 3rd February, a tall, grey-bearded gentleman, dressed in khaki
civilian attire, with a flannel collar and grey fabric gloves, stepped off the Channel boat at
Boulogne. It was Mr. Barnard Claw. The war had then lasted two years twenty-five
months and twenty-nine days.
The distinguished arrival was closely attended by a nervous young staff officer, wearing
green tabs. Mr. Claw was smiling cheerfully, and regarded his surroundings with interest,
asking many questions. In the course of the day he visited Ypres and dined that evening
privately with a divisional commander whose wife wrote plays and was an ardent admirer
of the author. On returning to the Visitors' Chateau Mr. Claw sat up latewriting.
The following morning Mr. Claw set off with Captain Hartley in a Vauxhall car,
taking the St. Pol road to Arras. The conducting officer called at Army Headquarters,
according to programme, to notify the presence of Mr. Claw, and to collect two other
neutral visitors from the French front. The A.D.C, to the Army Commander came with
a message to say that his chief would be unable to see Mr. Claw. Special passes having
been provided for the three visitors, a start was made at 9.55 for the front line. Mr.
Claw had expressed a desire to pay a visit to the trenches held by the Munsters at Moussy-
le-Bac and vicinity. At Andrelet sugar factory the party left the car and entered the
communication trench. It was then 10.15 a.m. The distance to Moussy-le-Bac was
about two miles. There was occasional shelling. They met two pairs of stretcher-bearers
bringing down wounded men. On arrival at the ruins of Moussy where the trenches
traverse the cellars, the party entered an observation post and Mr. Claw spoke to the
observation officer and two privates. They afterwards descended to the cellars which
were fitted up as billets and a mess. Mr. Claw complained of feeling a little faint and
asked if he might remain behind and have a chat with two or three old veterans of the
Munsters, who appeared to be glad to see him. The two distinguished neutrals wished
to go on to Moussy church, whence they could see the Tirpitz Redoubt. It was then 11.20.
At 11.33 Captain Hartley became aware of heavy shelling at the point he had just left,
which continued for nearly a quarter of an hour. He therefore thought it advisable to
delay rejoining Mr. Claw until the shelling had subsided.
At 11.51 a runner came to Moussy church to say that the Germans had shelled the
O.P. at Moussy-le-Bac and done a great deal of damage. Captain Hartley in his report states
that he felt nervous. When they reached the spot he found to his surprise that in the
interval the Munsters had been relieved and another unit had taken over the trenches. A
relieving platoon commander told him that the Munsters must have been moving out
just at the time they left. Captain Hartley asked if Mr. Claw was safe. The Lieutenant
