An Onlooker in France 1917-1919

This book must not be considered as a serious work on life in France behind the lines, it is merely an attempt to record some certain little incidents that occurred in my own life there.

The only thought I wish to convey is my sincere thanks for the wonderful opportunity that was given me to look on and see the fighting man, and to learn to revere and worship him--that is the only serious thing. I wish to express my worship and reverence to that gallant company, and to convey to those who are left my most sincere thanks for all their marvellous kindness to me, a mere looker on.

CONTENTS

Chap. Page

PREFACE v

I. TO FRANCE (APRIL 1917) 11

II. THE SOMME (APRIL 1917) 16

III. AT BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS AND ST. POL (MAY-JUNE 1917) 25

IV. THE YPRES SALIENT (JUNE-JULY 1917) 31

V. THE SOMME IN SUMMER-TIME (AUGUST 1917) 36

VI. THE SOMME (SEPTEMBER 1917) 42

VII. WITH THE FLYING CORPS (OCTOBER 1917) 50

VIII. CASSEL AND IN HOSPITAL (NOVEMBER 1917) 55

IX. WINTER (1917-1918) 62

X. LONDON (MARCH-JUNE 1918) 67

XI. BACK IN FRANCE (JULY-SEPTEMBER 1918) 75

XII. AMIENS (OCTOBER 1918) 84

XIII. NEARING THE END (OCTOBER 1918) 90

XIV. THE PEACE CONFERENCE 98

XV. PARIS DURING THE PEACE CONFERENCE 111

XVI. THE SIGNING OF THE PEACE 116

INDEX 121

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Plate

I. Field-Marshal Earl Haig of Bemersyde, O.M., K.T., etc. Frontispiece

II. The Bapaume Road. 12

III. Men Resting, La Boisselle. 15

IV. A Tank, Pozieres. 17

V. Warwickshires entering Peronne. 19

VI. No Man's Land. 21

VII. Three Weeks in France: Shell-shock. 24

VIII. Man in the Glare, Two Miles from the Hindenburg Line. 27

IX. Air-Marshal Sir H. M. Trenchard, Bart., K.C.B., etc. 29

X. A Howitzer in Action. 30

XI. German 'Planes visiting Cassel. 33

XII. Soldiers and Peasants, Cassel. 35

XIII. German Prisoners 37

XIV. View from the old English Trenches, looking towards La Boisselle. 39

XV. Adam and Eve at Peronne. 41

XVI. A Grave in a Trench. 43

XVII. The Deserter. 45

XVIII. The Great Mine, La Boisselle. 47

XIX. The Butte de Warlencourt 48

XX. Lieut. A. P. F. Rhys Davids, D.S.O., M.C., etc. 51

XXI. Lieut. R. T. C. Hoidge, M.C. 53

XXII. The Return of a Patrol. 54

XXIII. Changing Billets. 57

XXIV. The Receiving-room, 42nd Stationary Hospital. 58

XXV. A Death among the Wounded in the Snow. 61

XXVI. Some Members of the Allied Press Camp. 63

XXVII. Poilu and Tommy. 65

XXVIII. Major-General The Right Hon. J. E. B. Seely, C.B., etc. 66

XXIX. Bombing: Night. 66

XXX. Major J. B. McCudden, V.C., D.S.O., etc. 71

XXXI. The Refugee. 73

XXXII. Lieut.-Col. A. N. Lee, D.S.O., etc. 74

XXXIII. Marshal Foch, O.M. 77

XXXIV. A German 'Plane passing St. Denis. 79

XXXV. British and French A.P.M.'s, Amiens. 81

XXXVI. General Lord Rawlinson, Bart., G.C.B., etc. 83

XXXVII. Albert. 87

XXXVIII. The Mad Woman of Douai. 91

XXXIX. Field-Marshal Lord Plumer of Messines, G.C.B., etc. 93

XL. Armistice Night, Amiens. 95

XLI. The Official Entry of the Kaiser. 97

XLII. General Sir J. S. Cowans, G.C.B., etc. 99

XLIII. Field-Marshal Sir Henry H. Wilson, Bart., K.C.B., etc. 101

XLIV. The Right Hon. Louis Botha, P.C., LL.D. 103

XLV. The Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, O.M. 105

XLVI. President Woodrow Wilson. 107

XLVII. The Marquis Siongi. 109

XLVIII. A Polish Messenger. 110

XLIX. Lord Riddell. 113

L. The Right Hon. The Earl of Derby, E.G., etc. 117

LI. Signing the Peace Treaty. 119

LII. The End of a Hero and a Tank, Courcelette. At the end

LIII. General Birdwood returning to his Headquarters, Grevillers. "