One Young Man | Page 8

a
welcome port of call. On the small tables were magazines and 'Blighty'
newspapers, paper and envelopes were given for the asking, and a
gramophone was grinding out the tunes we all loved. We sat at one of
the tables, so thankful for such a change of scene, and for the warmth
of the hot tea. The same welcome, the same homely atmosphere, were
here as in the other Y.M. centres. One felt, one was made to feel, that
his was the right to enter and stay and enjoy himself each in his own
way, and that is why the Y.M. is so popular, and why both the taciturn
and the jocular find their way by common consent to these Y.M.C.A.
tents."
In a few days came the order to proceed to Ypres. He writes:
"We swung round into the station yard, and were allotted to our
compartments, fondly imagining we should be off in a few minutes.
We took off our equipment and other paraphernalia, and settled down
for our journey. A minute or so afterwards the order was passed down
that the train would not start before 7 o'clock, and that men might leave
their compartments but not the station. Here was a fine look-out. It was
only about 2 o'clock, and we had to look forward to at least five hours
of weary waiting, without anything hot to drink and only bully and
biscuits to eat. It was not a pleasant prospect, you will agree, but
apparently it was nothing out of the usual, for the 'Association of the
Red Triangle' was ready and waiting for us, and had a large canteen,
run entirely by ladies, on the station. Here we were able to provide for
our journey, fill our water-bottles with tea and our haversacks with ham,
rolls, and fruit. This was the best refreshment room I have been into,

and it was our last glimpse of English ladies for many months. These
ladies are doing a splendid and most self-sacrificing work, for their
hours are long and their duties heavy. I wonder if it has ever occurred
to them how much their presence meant to us boys? For many they
were the last seen of the womanhood of our race."
I wonder too. Will any of those ladies read these lines? I hope so--I'd
like them to know what their presence meant to just one of the boys
they have been serving so well. They will have their reward. I should
like them to have just one word of a Tommy's thanks now. He
continues:
"In our little compartment of six two were killed within a month and
one wounded; the other three survived until the first of July, when one
was killed, one was taken a prisoner of war, and I was wounded and
rendered unfit for further service. When at last our train started, amid
rousing cheers for the ladies and a fluttering of white handkerchiefs
from the little group on the station platform, we seemed to leave the
last of civilisation behind.
"Before midnight we were under shell-fire in the Infantry Barracks of
Ypres."
He writes to his mother:
"My word we were tired at the end of the journey. We are stationed in
the military barracks of the city, and have had a chance of looking
round the town. The buildings, especially the cathedral, are very much
damaged. The only discomforts are the lack of food and the absence of
money to buy it. Both G. and I landed here without a penny, but
managed to borrow enough to buy a loaf. We know now what it is to be
hungry; we have 1/4 lb. of bread a day only, and no milk in the tea, so
you can see that what you want you must buy, and it's terribly
expensive here, 6d. for a loaf, etc. But we shall be paid in a day or so.
The only things which are really necessary, and which we cannot get
here, are candles and Oxo cubes. Although I don't want to be a burden
to you, I should like you to send 1 lb. of candles and some cubes. The
candles are used for boiling water or tea, etc., in the trenches, and it is

the only way we can get anything hot. Of course anything in the way of
food is acceptable, but I can understand that you have enough to do
without extra trouble and expense. Anyway, should any kind friends
wish to send, please let them do so.
"We are two miles from trenches, and shall be going in on Sunday. A
few shells are knocking round, but we take no notice and sleep well.
Well, don't worry. We are in comfortable billets and with very decent
fellows, and they have