A Dream in Ypres
THE YPRES TIMES
149
the conclusion that nothing we possessed amongst us was of any marketable value and
the prospect of a very early night in our temporary camp more evitable than a trip
into town.
Quietly observing one of the lads fingering an old and battered metalic watch,
Dusty, our wit, suddenly brought us to life with a wild snatch at the watch and an
enthusiastic request to follow him. Faithful to our army training, we obeyed the
command and eventually found ourselves seated outside a cafe at which some Senegalese
soldiers (French Colonial troops) were enjoying a hectic round of bieres. Dusty, still
eyed by us in amazement, straightaway proceeded to get on friendly terms with these
Senegalese and after many bon comrade," one of them, a little under the weather,
called for drinks for the soldats Anglais which according to our leader's ejaculation was
just what the doctor ordered Noticing Dusty looking intently at the aforementioned
watch, a Senegalese also became interested, and suppressing our mirth, we instinctively
felt that this miserable trinket might yet prove our salvation. After a most wonderful
tale as to its real worth, and how it came into Dusty's possession via a Turkish General
a sale at fifteen francs seemed imminent. On hearing a member of our party jocularly
mention that the thing wouldn't go, the Sengalese immediately turned and
exclaimed No go, eh Dusty, however, having got so far, did not intend this
faux-pas to spoil the transaction, so he replied that his friend meant, no sell sell only
for twenty francs Viewing our party a little suspiciously he eventually said, Yez
Comrade, den I give twenty francs Following the handing over of the necessary, we
suddenly realised we were due back in camp, which of course was not the case, and
hastily bid them our very warm adieus, which were heartily reciprocated. Knowing full
well it would only be a short time ere they discovered they had been rather badly fooled,
we hiked it to the furthermost part of the town and continued to drink their health until
only a franc or two remained.
Bearing in mind the fervour of their friendship at our initial meeting, we did not
intend to disturb the peace, but dodging shells and bullets appeared easy as compared
with playing hide and seek with these Senegalese for the remaining few days that we
were at Marseilles, because sure enough if one of us dared stray into a back area café
he would be immediately confronted with the cry You sella de watch," followed by
the demand for the return of the twenty francs.
We were certain that the joke would be ultimately appreciated by these good
fellows, but our trek across France en route to dear old Blighty gave us an opportunity
to tell Dusty a few home truths.
Survivor.
By A. Douglas Thorburn, M.A. (Capt. R.F.A., S.R. retd.)
(Author of Amateur Gunners.")
THE Fortunes of War did not bring me to The Salient during the period of hos
tilities. The battery with which I served for over three years, holding various
ranks from 2nd Lieut, to Captain did yeoman service in France, Salonica, Pales
tine and again in France without being employed farther North than La Bassée.
My visit to Ypfes in the summer of 1920 was therefore my first to the area since the
outbreak of war. The occasion was a motor tour of the battle areas of Belgium and
Northern France in which I had for companion an ex-officer of the Cheshire Regiment
who had stopped a bullet in one of the Gallipoli assaults and been permanently lamed
thereby.
Our tour included the town of Ypres which in 1920 was still in a state of almost
total ruin. By then little had been done in the way of restoration, the Cloth Hall still
