54
The Ypres Times.
Like other Second Lines, the division sent off drafts and was filled up again, was
trained and made ready to go overseas, then kept on coast defences and apparently for
gotten, but finally went to France in February, 1917. Though starting late, they managed
to fight in most parts of the line, to face the mud at Passchendaele, and to feel the full
force of the German attack on the 5th Army front in March, 1918, and finally to be in
Bethell's Flying Force in November, 1918, the farthest east of the British Army.
After the. retreat in March the Division's reward was to train American troops, an
interesting experience for both parties. The Americans proved free from the cocksure-
ness and egotism found in novels. On the other hand, they wanted to know why
they had not been informed our Army was such a good one, our equipment so perfect,
and that our county regiments contained as good fighting material as was to be found
in the Canadian and Australian Forces." There are others who have asked the same
questions.
It is a hard job getting together the facts for a battle picture, experto crede. Our
authors found it so, as they admit, but they have managed to put together a connected
story in nearly every case. They quote freely from letters, written at the time, and have
incorporated other first-hand accounts, and of course they saw a great deal of the
fighting themselves. They give us a number of anecdotes, enlivened by bits of good
Lancashire, and snatches of songs that once we all sang. A most welcome original
document is printed as an appendix, a very racy account by one Private Hinde of his
astounding escape from captivity behind the German lines in August, 19x8. All this
is very proper to a regimental history, and is of interest not only to old members of the
battalion, but to the world at large and to posterity. The future historian will want to
know what the soldier said and thought no less than what he did.
The maps are adequate, and one of them is novel and valuable, as it gives the track
of the battalion from its landing in France to the Armistice.
The book runs to 200 pages and over, so that an index would have been welcome.
Another desideratum is a complete list of distinctions, perhaps with quotations from
the London Gazette.
W. H. B. S.
"THE GUNNER'S BALLAD."
Our happy family consists of three-
The Corporal, the Bombardier, and me.
In various climes its been our fate to roam,
Till here together we have found a home.
It isn't furnished in the latest mode,
But then we trust it ain't a permanent abode.
The roof was once, I think, a stable door
Of straw's the carpet that adorns the floor
The walls hre of a quite superior clay
That sticks to one and won't be lured away.
Adown those walls the melting snow is trickling
And down the Corporal's neckhis comments
are most tickling.
We're somewhat limited for space, 'tis true
If I turn round, so must the other two.
And getting in and out becomes a bore
When one is rather wider than the door.
But still we're not too slow in taking cover
When those confounded German souvenirs come
over.
In reminiscent mood we sip our tea
The Corporal, the Bombadier, and me.
We hearken back to Mons and he Cateau
I wonder what's become of So-and-so
I hear that Nobby Johnson's sent a letter
To say they took a blooming leg off, but he's
better."
Pass up the pozzey if it's not all done."
But hark, Eyes front! Turn out and man your
gun."
There goes the tea, the jam is on the floor
I've stuck again-my blessings on this door-
Three thousand yards, corrector 1-6-2,
And Fire! my German friends a souvenir
for you.
Down falls the night, and also falls the rain
The sentries mount, we seek our home again
And, clinging close the blessed warmth to keep,
Seek brief oblivion in a dreamless sleep.
Till dawns the day upon the sodden trenches,
And calls to Action front our army known
as French's.
