An Onlooker in France 1917-1919

Onlooker in France 1917-1919,
by William Orpen

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Title: An Onlooker in France 1917-1919
Author: William Orpen
Release Date: December 29, 2006 [EBook #20215]
Language: English
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ONLOOKER IN FRANCE 1917-1919 ***

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[Transcriber's note:--The original page references for the list of
illustrations was 'facing page' therefore they have been changed in this

text to match the page numbers in this file.]

AN ONLOOKER IN FRANCE
[Illustration: I. Field-Marshal Earl Haig of Bemersyde, O.M., K.T.,
etc.]

AN ONLOOKER IN FRANCE
1917-1919

BY SIR WILLIAM ORPEN, K.B.E., R.A.

LONDON WILLIAMS AND NORGATE 1921

Pictures and Text, Copyright 1921 by Sir William Orpen, K.B.E., R.A.
Printed in Great Britain by Richard Clay & Sons, Limited, Paris
Garden, Stamford St., S.E. 1, and Bungay, Suffolk.

PREFACE (p. v)
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, Pozières. 17
V. Warwickshires entering Péronne. 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 Péronne. 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.