At Ypres with Best-Dunkley | Page 4

one looks upon the
peaceful country-side in France to-day one can scarcely realize that war
is raging in all its ferocity and barbarity so near. It seems an anomaly.
The weather is more suggestive of cricket than of war.
"I got here about 8.30, and went to the mess of the 23rd Infantry Base
Depot. Here I found Bridgestock, Hamer, and Allin (officers who had

been at Scarborough with me, and had come out a few days earlier).
They have been here nearly a week. They are going to the 3/5th
Lancashire Fusiliers. I had some supper before going to bed in my tent.
We are three in a tent. Leigh and Macdonald are the names of my tent
companions.
"Fortunately it is Sunday to-day. So we did not get up until 7.45. I did
not feel like rising until then!
"We (the twenty Lancashire Fusilier officers who arrived here
yesterday) saw the Adjutant, Captain Reid, this morning, in the orderly
room, and had some information given to us. I spent most of the
morning at the field cashier's, waiting for an 'advance of pay book'!
Then lunch. It is now about 2.30 in the afternoon.
"As I expected, I find that I have too much kit: I am told that I shall
have to get rid of some when I get to my unit. I am at present writing
on my nice table, but no other officers have brought out tables or chairs
or anything of that kind! Well--we shall see...."
"May 28th, 1917.
"It is still boiling hot; thank goodness we have finished for to-day! I
must first, however, tell you how I spent the remainder of yesterday,
after writing home. I spent the afternoon in the town. I explored most
of it. Happening to pass the church, I saw a great crowd. It was full
inside; the west doors were open, and people were sitting in the
doorway and standing out in the street watching the service. So I too
stopped and watched. It was most interesting, but as the service was
conducted in French (apparently the Gallican Church differs from the
Roman Catholic Church in England in that the service is conducted in
the vernacular), I do not know what the service was. Although most of
it was in French, bits were in Latin. It was exceptionally spectacular.
There were about a hundred little boys in surplices and little girls in
white veils (as if dressed for confirmation), all carrying long, lighted
candles. Music and hymns were proceeding all the time. The little boys
and girls were standing still part of the time, and processing up and
down the chancel at other times. Eventually they all processed past the

senior priest, attired in full vestments; and he blew out their candles as
they passed. Towards the close of the service, a little girl, carrying her
candle, was brought out by the priest and stationed in front of the altar
with her face to the congregation; then she recited, in French,
something which sounded like a very long creed. She was only about
twelve or thirteen; but she did it without a stop, and in a clear, pleasant
voice. After that a bell rang, everybody bent their heads, and the priest
pronounced the Benediction. Then the congregation came out, and
behind came the boys and girls and the priest. The people lined the road,
and the procession walked on until it reached a kind of yard leading to
some institute. The people followed. They all halted inside here. Then
the priest prepared to make a little speech and pronounce another
Benediction; but he would not proceed until all the little choir boys
were perfectly quiet. He waited about five minutes. Then he preached a
brief sermon (of course in French) directed to the children. I could not
understand much of what he was talking about; but I think he was very
eloquent. I could deduce from words here and there that he was
reminding them that their fathers and brothers and uncles were fighting
at the front, and telling them that if they were not good little boys and
girls their fathers and brothers and uncles would fall in battle! Then he
pronounced his final Benediction, and we scattered--5.20.
"I could see that everybody was discussing the service and the sermon.
I overheard a Frenchman in frock coat and top hat, who seemed to be a
churchwarden or something of the kind, expressing his appreciation of
the latter.
"Then I came back to camp and paraded for a box-respirator! We then
went through 'tear gas.' Then dinner. I sat at the Commandant's table.
He was talking about a great concentration up North--guns and supplies
and men swarming there recently....
"After dinner I went to bed. Thus ended Whitsun Day,