Epilogue to a British War Novel.
82
THE YPRES TIMES
No. 5.Report at once number of windows of smoke helmets broken since
you have been in the trenches. AAA. The signal will now be two beats on a
shell gong, and not as per my message 3 in correction of my message i. Adjutant.
No. 6.Re my message No. 4, for the word French read German," and
for the word German read French." AAA. You will still use your
discretion.
7.30 p.m.Messages dealt with. Dinner.
8.30 p.m'Arrival of C.O. Suggests politely that your men would be better
employed doing some other kind of work. Assent enthusiastically. All working
parties are changed over to different work. Temper indifferent.
9 p.m. to 2 a.m.Answer telephone messages.
2.30 a.m.Stand to arms. Walk round and survey the result of the night's
work. Find the majority of it has been blown in by trench mortars in the
early morning.
3.30 a.m.Try to sleep.
4 a.m.Woken up to receive the following messages:
No. 115.All smoke helmets are to be immediately marked with the date of
issue. AAA. If no date is known, no date should be marked and the matter
reported accordingly.
No. 116.R.E. require a working party from your company to-morrow from
6 a.m. to 7 p.m. AAA. Strength 150, with suitable proportion of N.C.Os. AAA.
Otherwise your work is to be continued as usual. Adjutant.
5 a.m.Woken up to send in Situation Report," Report Situation
normal."
8 a.m.Breakfast.
9 to 11 a.mScraping off mud in Oxford Street. Removing bits of bacon
in Bond Street. Reburying Fritz, who, owing to a night's rain, has suddenly
appeared in Regent Street.
11.15 a.mArrival of Brigade Staff. Orders given for everything that has
been dug out in the night to be filled in, and everything that has been filled in to
be dug out.
1.16 a.m.Departure of Brigade Staff.
Brain now in state of coma. Feel nothing except a dull wonder. Rest
of day spent in eating chocolates, writing letters home to children, and picking
flowers off the bank. Final message can remember receiving is about 12 noon.
No. 271.The Brigadier-General and Staff will shortly be round your trenches.
Adjutant.
By One Who Served in 1914,
1916 and 1917 in the salient.
A people this who dread no jeopardy,
But dread disclosure of a valiant deed.
Who fight indomitable, and alway
Some jesting pretext for their prowess plead,
Conceiving glory as an alien creed.
These made their saga as who plaudits scorn.
Concealed the gold, but showed the gilding crack;
Disdained the laurel for a wreath of thorn
And stripped War stark to show a gaping pack
Their hero not enthroned, but on the rack.
Beatrix Brice.
