The Ypres Times.
103
me back again. A Bosch shell had burst only a few yards away from me, ploughing up
the earth as it did so, and distributing the aforementioned piece to my facial anatomy.
I scrambled out again and did my humble modest bit towards driving the Bosch out of
his position. But before we could consolidate our position, dig-in, or anything else, the
enemy launched a counter attack, and we were forced to retire to somewhere near our
original position. The next day we were relieved.
It was not until we were well advanced on our way down the duck walk," for the
last few days had been so eventful and crowded, that I began wondering about
What had become of him Where was he I enquired of those near to me, but none
seemed to know.
There was no doubt about the matter, however, when we reached our bivouac and
were drawn up for roll call.was there numbered among the missing. It was then
that the terrible significance broke over me of the bursting of the shell as I had scrambled
for the first time out of the shell hole. My portion was but a clod of mud over the face
but poor's! I knew now only too well.
was officially reported missing, his people were apprised, and they mourned
long and poignantly for him, but always mingling their grief with a hope (alas! never
realised) that he would come back to them.
I could hear my own heart beating as I walked up to the artist in the Minster on that
autumn day in 1923. I clapped him on the shoulder.
I said.
The man certainly gave a start as he felt my hand upon his shoulder, and turned his
head in my direction. Then he turned his eyes into my face. My heart leapt. Yes,
the face was certainly's but the blank, vacant non-understanding look in the eyes
told me that not the slightest recognition of me remained on his part.
I said again. t i
But he just gazed at me with the same lack-lustre eye and then resumed his
drawing.
Realising that it would be useless for me immediately to try to arouse his recognition
I went in search of a verger that I might perhaps learn where the strange artist lodged.
But I could not light upon a verger just then.
When I returned to the west end of the cathedral the artist had vanished. I enquired
concerning him, but no artist or any man answering to my description had been known
to haunt the church, and certainly no one of that kind had been given permission to
sketch there.
It is indeed all verv strange.
ALFRED C. TOMLINSON M.A.
MEMBERSHIP OF THE LEAGUE.
This is open to all who served in the Salient,
and to all those whose relatives or friends died
there, in order that they may have a record of
that service for themselves and their descendants,
and belong to the comradeship of men and women
who understand and remember all that Ypres
meant in suffering and endurance.
Life membership, £2 10s. Annual members, 5s.
Special charges are made to those who cannot
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Do not let the fact of your not having served
in the Salient deter you from joining the Ypres
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Salient nor lost relatives there, but who are in
sympathy with the objects of the Ypres League,
are admitted to its fellowship, but are not given
scroll certificates.
There is also a J unior Division to which children
of those who served in the Salient, also those who
sympathise with our objects, have a right to
belong. Annual subscriptions Is. up to the age
of 18, after which they can become "^ordinary
members of the League.