A galloper at Ypres, and some subsequent adventures

BELGIAN OFFICERS 47

I was much struck by the quiet, resolute mien of all the Belgian officers who brought reports and dispatches. Especially do I remember a young cavalry captain who looked as though he had just taken part in a peaceful jumping competition at Olympia. The Belgians and French always wore their peace uniform at that time, though the French officers, I noticed later on at Ypres, had discarded all their gold lace and were dressed exactly like their men.

REINFORCEMENTS

FROM now on my work became double, for I was the only A.D.C. left. Very early in the morning of the 25th October I accompanied the General on a visit to the various Brigade Head- quarters. The mornings were very misty these days, and as a rule the heavy German shelling used to begin at 8 a.m. sharp. This was a Sunday morning, and what a lot we had gone through since the previous Sunday, when the great battle of Ypres had started !

ANOTHER GO, BUT DIFFERENT

ON Wednesday, 2nd of December, 1914 i— exactly a month after I had received my wound in the First Battle of Ypres — I was just well enough to be discharged to a friend's house from Guy's Hospital, where I had been happy, comfortable, and well cared for. I was five and a half months at home, either on sick leave or, towards the end, on " light duty " in Dublin. Light duty soon gave way to " passed fit for general service," and on the 30th April, 1915, very suddenly, I got my orders to proceed with eight other officers of my regiment to France.

PREPARATION 213

division on our left. We knew that it predicted a big assault upon the line, and afterwards we learnt that it had heralded the great attack which formed the Second Battle of Ypres.

BELGIAN OFFICERS 47

I was much struck by the quiet, resolute mien of all the Belgian officers who brought reports and dispatches. Especially do I remember a young cavalry captain who looked as though he had just taken part in a peaceful jumping competition at Olympia. The Belgians and French always wore their peace uniform at that time, though the French officers, I noticed later on at Ypres, had discarded all their gold lace and were dressed exactly like their men.

REINFORCEMENTS

FROM now on my work became double, for I was the only A.D.C. left. Very early in the morning of the 25th October I accompanied the General on a visit to the various Brigade Head- quarters. The mornings were very misty these days, and as a rule the heavy German shelling used to begin at 8 a.m. sharp. This was a Sunday morning, and what a lot we had gone through since the previous Sunday, when the great battle of Ypres had started !

ANOTHER GO, BUT DIFFERENT

ON Wednesday, 2nd of December, 1914 i— exactly a month after I had received my wound in the First Battle of Ypres — I was just well enough to be discharged to a friend's house from Guy's Hospital, where I had been happy, comfortable, and well cared for. I was five and a half months at home, either on sick leave or, towards the end, on " light duty " in Dublin. Light duty soon gave way to " passed fit for general service," and on the 30th April, 1915, very suddenly, I got my orders to proceed with eight other officers of my regiment to France.

PREPARATION 213

division on our left. We knew that it predicted a big assault upon the line, and afterwards we learnt that it had heralded the great attack which formed the Second Battle of Ypres.

TOWARDS ANTWERP

We had been warned by the Belgian authorities on our arrival that the walls had ears — especially at our hotel — and so we were extra careful. The spy peril was to be brought home to us again and again during our travels in Flanders.

REINFORCEMENTS

FROM now on my work became double, for I was the only A.D.C. left. Very early in the morning of the 25th October I accompanied the General on a visit to the various Brigade Head- quarters. The mornings were very misty these days, and as a rule the heavy German shelling used to begin at 8 a.m. sharp. This was a Sunday morning, and what a lot we had gone through since the previous Sunday, when the great battle of Ypres had started !

ANOTHER GO, BUT DIFFERENT

ON Wednesday, 2nd of December, 1914 i— exactly a month after I had received my wound in the First Battle of Ypres — I was just well enough to be discharged to a friend's house from Guy's Hospital, where I had been happy, comfortable, and well cared for. I was five and a half months at home, either on sick leave or, towards the end, on " light duty " in Dublin. Light duty soon gave way to " passed fit for general service," and on the 30th April, 1915, very suddenly, I got my orders to proceed with eight other officers of my regiment to France.

PREPARATION 213

division on our left. We knew that it predicted a big assault upon the line, and afterwards we learnt that it had heralded the great attack which formed the Second Battle of Ypres.