43
K.S.L.I. WREATH. VLAMERTINGHE CEMETERY.
chums who knew we had come
to them, back through the
years, to show we had not for
gotten; back proudly to claim
kinship with those who passed
over in the Great Adventure
He giveth His beloved
sleep quietly, and with
hearts full of emotion, we pro
ceeded with the little ceremony.
A wreath in the form of a
K.S.L.I, cap badge was laid on
the Stone of Remembrance.
The words of The Supreme
Sacrifice followed These
were His servants, in His steps
they trod, following to death
the Martyred Son of God."
A few brief prayers: "O
Lord, support us all the day long in this troublous life, until the shades lengthen, and
the evening comes." Yes, the evening is coming for us, but not for them. They
shall not grow old as we that are left grow old." The service over, we knelt in
silence, then, standing erect, did we not feel better men for our contact with the
dear old pals of the dark years of trial?
We footslogged the old Pop' road back to Ypres, and noticed that the old
camouflage wires were still stretched between some of the trees.
To complete our battlefield Sunday, we attended Evensong at St. George's
Church, the Bishop of Swansea being the preacher.
On Monday morning, having made up a party of four, we travelled down the
line to Vimy Ridge and Arras. Travelling outwards, we stopped at Merville
Communal Cemetery to visit the grave of our battalion's first fatal casualtySergt.
Stan. Williams, who was really a lovable character. An officer of the regiment
wrote of him
Let every mother tell her child
How, dying, Williams passed and smiled
And as the stretcher bore him west,
He faced his comrades with a jest,
And showed with what a courage high
A Shropshire boy could laugh and die."
Arriving at Vimy Ridge about midday, by way of that village of terrible
memory, Souchez, we spent an interesting time in the tunnels and trenches, both
German and British. Here, in the British tunnels, one may still see jack-knife
sculpture and pencilled names, and remarks of British Tommies during .their occu
pation. The Canadian Government are to be congratulated on this magnificent
memorial.
We spent an hour or so in Arras, and then returned along the old front line,
passing through such well-known spots as Fleurbaix, Lavantie, Neuve Chapelle,
Rouge Croix, La Bassée Road, Aubers Ridgethe latter place being the objective
of our division in September, 1915.
Tuesday morning found us at Essex Farm, where we received our first taste of
Salient existence in February, 1916. I nearly said life." Having visited the
beautiful cemetery here, we entered the new edition of Essex Farm, and, over a
welcome drink, had an interesting chat with the poor old lady who fled from this