On the right of the British line

This is my first book. It is also my last. But I have a record to make and a duty to perform. I was five weeks on the firing line; four weeks mourned as dead; and three months a prisoner of war.

I have attempted to make a true record of all that happened. The names alone are fictitious (all except that of Saniez), for those days were too full of stirring events which will long live in my memory to need the aid of fiction. If I have dwelt at some length upon my experience in Germany, it is with the hope that the information may be of interest to those who have relatives and friends still in the hands of the enemy and burn to know the truth.

I do not deplore the loss of my sight, for I can say in all sincerity that I was never happier in my life than I am to-day.

G.N.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. FOVANT 1 ORDERLY ROOM. OFF TO THE FRONT.

II. THE SILENT HEROES 6 THE WOMAN WHO WAITS--AND SUFFERS IN SILENCE.

III. DEPARTURE FOR THE FRONT 9 WATERLOO STATION. LUNCHEON ARGUMENTS. THE BAGGAGE PROBLEM.

IV. CROSSING THE CHANNEL 15 THE DOCK PORTER. A WHIFF OF BOND STREET.

V. GOING UP THE LINE 24 PERFIDIOUS GANG-PLANKS. D'ARCY STRANDED. GUIDES WHO CANNOT GUIDE. A HEATED ARGUMENT.

VI. RATIONS 33 I LEARN TO HATE FOOD. MATHEMATICAL PROBLEMS.

VII. ST. AMAND 37 I REPORT AT HEADQUARTERS. THE PROBLEM OF VENTILATION.

VIII. EARLY IMPRESSIONS 41 BILLETS. A STARTLING INCIDENT. REST CAMP.

IX. DEPARTURE FOR THE SOMME 48 CORBIE. HAPPY VALLEY. PASSING THROUGH THE GUNS.

X. ARRIVAL ON THE SOMME 57 FEEDING THE GUNS. SEPTIMUS D'ARCY ARRIVES. A CURIOUS KIT.

XI. DEATH VALLEY 66 MOVING OVER BATTLE-FIELDS. ---- BATTALION, LONDON REGIMENT, IN POSSESSION. THE MYSTERY TRENCH. FALFEMONT FARM.

XII. OUT IN NO MAN'S LAND 71 SUDDEN ORDERS. THE BEGINNING OF A GREAT ADVENTURE. DIGGING IN.

XIII. A NIGHT OF ALARM 82 SEPTIMUS IN A NEW RÔLE. SAVING THE AMMUNITION. THE LAST CARTRIDGE.

XIV. NEXT MORNING 87 A COUNCIL OF WAR. OPERATION ORDERS. A BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT.

XV. THE ADVANCE THROUGH LEUZE WOOD 91 NEW OPERATION ORDERS. "AT ANY COST." LIKE RATS IN A TRAP.

XVI. THE ATTACK 101 A DESPERATE SITUATION. BATTLE FORMATION. "FOR ENGLAND."

XVII. AT ANY COST 110 OVER THE TOP. MAD, FIGHTING MAD. THE FINAL ASSAULT.

XVIII. LEFT ON THE FIELD 116 THE MYSTERY OF DEATH. THE SECRET CODE. TWO TERRIBLE DAYS.

XIX. THE JAWS OF DEATH 123 LONELINESS, DARKNESS, AND SILENCE. A LAST EFFORT. I PREPARE FOR DEATH.

XX. AT THE MERCY OF THE HUN--AND AFTER 130 A BASIN OF SOUP. HOSPITAL AT ST. QUENTIN. THE "OPEN SESAME."

XXI. ALIVE 143

XXII. BLINDNESS 147

XXIII. THE WOMAN WHO WAITS 151 THE TELEGRAPH BOY'S RAT-TAT. KILLED IN ACTION. WEEKS OF MOURNING.

XXIV. WARD 43, RESERVE LAZARETTE 5, HANOVER 156 OCCUPANTS OF THE WARD. CHIVALRY OF THE AIR.

XXV. SANIEZ 160

XXVI. LIFE IN HANOVER HOSPITAL 166 HOSPITAL DIET. INTERVIEWED BY A GERMAN DOCTOR. DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL.

XXVII. OBSERVATIONS AND IMPRESSIONS 176 EMPLOYMENT OF PRISONERS. PARCELS. MEN OF MONS.

XXVIII. STORIES OF THE HEROES OF MONS 187

XXIX. OSNABRUCK 199 ARRIVAL IN CAMP. THE CANTEEN. DAILY ROUTINE. RATIONS. PARCELS. NEWS.

XXX. COMEDY AND DRAMA 215 I SALUTE THE WALL. THE STORY OF AN EGG. A NOVEL BANQUET. JOY RIDE ON A LORRY. THE SWISS COMMISSION.

XXXI. FREE 227 I BLUFF THE GERMAN SERGEANT. AACHEN. TWO BOTTLES OF WINE. ACROSS THE FRONTIER. GREAT SCOTT! I AM CHARGED FOR MY OWN DEATH EXPENSES.

ILLUSTRATIONS

Captain Gilbert Nobbs Frontispiece

Captain Nobbs after his release from the German prison Facing page 164