The Ypres Times. h
Imperial War Museum.] [Photo. Crown Copyright.
Sanctuary WoodShowing Mount Sored,
one forget the journeys up
through St. Jean, the working-
parties along the bullet-swept
road, in the dark, past Halfway
Cottage Or that phenomenal
spell of frost from January
15th to the middle of February,
1917, when every shell-hole
was ice-bound and the ground
like cast iron hater came a
spell in June when this sector
was almost unbearably hot
and stifling.
6, Potijze. Memories here of
quiet days in Lancer Farm and
Hussar Farm, when we were
cheered by news of America's
entry into the war. Then
most turbulent days up in front, what time Jerry amused himself by obliterating our
communication trenches, Piccadilly and the Haymarket." (Unfortunately there
was no Mallthrough which the traffic could be diverted during repairs!)
7. Railway Wood. By reputation the worst spot in the Salient. And, to judge
by the expression on the face of a certain subaltern, when he learnt of an impending
move to this sector instead of to a rest area, it must have been pretty badWherefore
we thank the powers we knew it not.
8. Hooge. The famous Menin Road sector. This, with its broad space of No Man's
Land, was often quiet for
long spells in front, but bad
to approach over such un
healthy spots as Hellfire
Cornerand Birr Cross
Roads. Twenty-four-hour
spells in the Culvert demand
ed Spartan qualities and
generous issues of rum.
9. Sanctuary Wood and
Observatory Ridge. In the
former the shattered stumps
of the trees gave an eerie
uncertainty in the darkness
and a ghostly weirdness in
moonlight. The rising ground
gave us a rare feeling of
advantage on the ridge, and
from Crab Crawl we could
observe the wily Hun in a
way undreamed of on other
parts of the Salient. Cross
Trench ran obliquely forward
to some 20 yards short of
the enemy trench, whence
the guttural tones and cough
ing of the Hun could be Spoii.bank.
Imperial War Museum.]
PhotoCrown Copyright.
