YPRES BOOK OF VALOUR.
The Ypres Times.
155
We were all at first greatly astonished at the colossal shell fire and continual bombard
ment of Ypres. I was sitting in a fire bay one evening when I overheard two old toughs
discussing the situation, and the shells which were whining incessantly over our heads
on their way to the Cloth Hall. Faith, Mick, Armentières was cushy compared to this
spotthe shells down there were only connecting files, but here begad there's battalions
of 'em going over in column of route too!
On the 8th June we watched the effect of the Hun artillery on the tower of the Ypres"
Cathedral and the three remaining pinnacles of the Cloth Hallthey got direct hits on
two of the pinnacles after a lot of shooting. It might have been a test for proficiency pay
for some Boche gunners, or a school of their shaven-headed N.C.O.'s trying to qualify
for commissionsWho knows
We worked all night, digging C.T.'s or cutting the high grass in No Man's Land in
order to get a better field of fire.
On these grass cutting expeditions we came across numbers of bodies of dead Canadians,
all victims of the gas attack in the Second Battle. These we always buried.
The only advantage in being in the support line was that behind Irish Farm there
stretched a large patch of potatoes this was a great attraction, especially to Irish troops.
At all times of the day the men used to go out and dig up their national fodder, and
when they were spotted we always got crumped by coal boxes or Black Marias.
A six-day so-called restfollowed, billets being found in one of the main streets in
Ypres this rest was just one long endless fatigue. Every night working parties were
found for Hooge or Railway Wood, and the day time was spent in taking down the hall
doors from a number of houses for front line dug-out roofs!
The Battalion's casualty list was exceptionally heavy for a month's trench warfare,
numbers of men being killed on the working parties and from shell fire when in billets.
The Ypres Sector was undoubtedly different from all the others.
Capt. F. C. HITCHCOCK, M.C.
So many of the incidents that have been received from Regiments are too similar
in character to make thé composition of a readable book feasible if we adhere to the
original lines that we proposed.
The immediate success of the Immortal Salient, a true historic guide to Ypres, has
pointed clearly to the form in which the Book of Valour will be most in demand, i.e. a
companion volume that will enlarge the bare outline of the Guide with much fuller
Regimental narratives.
Following the roads as we do in the Immortal Salient, we propose to fill out the map
with story and incident connected with each historic spot.
The many contributions which we have received are being allocated to the position
where each incident occurred.
Our first aim is that every Regiment should be represented somewhere in this epic.
We are now making a final appeal to all those who have not yet sent a contribution to
this unique book to send as soon as possible an account of an outstanding and gallant
incident.
Might we suggest that in Regimental journals, officers' diaries, records of honours
received, some stirring matters might be found.
If former notices of this proposed book have not reached you we should be glad to send
you all particulars.
We intend to publish this book at the end of this year and must limit the time that
we can receive contributions to the ist September.
W. P. PULTENEY, Lt.-General.
BEATRIX BRICE.
