THE YPRES TIMES
103
kindred youthful spirit in the army commander, General Plumer. General Plumer was
indeed youthful in spirit and vigour.
While the discipline of the Second Army was a model in its spartan rigour, the
only kind that counts in ..war, he, like every real leader, was at all times his natural
self, and as a Britisher was seemingly most casual in military matters. When the
Twenty-seventh and Thirtieth American Divisions were to attack Vierstraat Ridge, on
the south side of the Salient, the secret warning order was given me personally
but most casually by General Plumer as he was leaving my post of command
after tea." He said, Oh, by the way, O'Ryan, how would you like to have a go at
our friends on the ridge I told him we were there for that purpose. Perfectly
splendid," he said. Suppose you have a chat with McMullen (his chief of staff),
and if you two work up something, let us make it the middle of the week, but not a
word about it, of course." That was all there was of the warning order. But it meant
much. Needless to say, General McMullen already had in hand all details of the plan
and the tentative corps order ready for questions and discussion.
On another occasion General Plumer, while half the Twenty-seventh Division was
in the line, asked if it were possible to have an infantry company make a simulated
attack over open ground, he to pick the company. It was arranged. The 108th
Infantry was in reserve located in various half-demolished but entrenched farms. We
rode to their general location. General Plumer watched every detail of the exercise,
selecting E Company, and remarked, They are well-trained and seasoned soldiers
all right." But he seemed somewhat emotional. When we returned to my quarters
and were alone, I noted a tear in his eye which he did not try to hide. Several times he
remarked, What menWhat splendid fellows, and they're so keenThen,
O'Ryan, it's rotten it's wrong there should be some other way. Why don't you
keep half of them out of the next show
He always seemed mystified about the large number of Germans (as he referred to
our soldiers with German names) in our division. On one visit, when I had not returned,
he talked to my soldier secretary and asked him his name. Sergeant Karl Otto
Briinig," was the reply. The General was speechless, as he later told me. Do you
write the originals of secret orders?" was his next question. "Yes, sir," said the
sergeant. I am the General's confidential stenographer, sir." Amazing said the
General cryptically. Later he was still more amazed when, in response to his grave
concern, I told him that about 40 per cent, of our division were German, about 40 per
cent. Irish, 40 per cent. English and Scotch, 20 per cent. Italian, and another 20 per
cent, other nationalities. He pondered the figures for a moment and then brightened
up, remarking, What an extraordinary people you Americans are
Every veteran of the two American divisions knew, at least by the grapevine,"
that the army commander, the late Field-Marshal Lord Plumer, was a gentleman and
a soldier rigorous in his conceptions of duty in war, but personally concerned with their
individual welfare, generous in his praise of sacrifice and accomplishment, simple and
modest in his personal relations.
The Twenty-seventh and Thirtieth Division veterans, I am sure, in the recollections
they hold of their service in the Second British Army, would wish Lady Plumer to know
of the regard and esteem they held for General Plumer and of their sympathy for her
in her loss.
JOHN F. O'RYAN.
Major-General, 27th Div., A.E.F.
