PREPARING TO START FOR ENGLAND
Reverend Mother, despairing of getting into Ypres, was now determined
to leave Poperinghe and go to England; but again the question presented
itself--How were we to get there? As the English officers had been so
kind to us in our efforts to get to Ypres on the previous evening, she
thought that perhaps they would help us also for the journey. Dame
Teresa offered to accompany her, as, being the niece of Mr. Redmond,
it was felt she might be specially useful. So, accompanied by Dame
Columban and Dame Patrick, Mother Prioress set out to try to find the
officer who had given them seats in his motor the day before. He had
said he belonged to the aeroplane encampment, which we knew to be
just outside the town. Meeting an English soldier, we asked him to be
so kind as to show us the way. On hearing our story, he advised us
to apply rather to another officer, who would be better able to help
us, and directed us to the convent where this officer was staying.
The convent proved to be that of the Penitents of St. Francis, where
we received a warm welcome, and were introduced to two nuns from the
Hospice of Ypres who had taken refuge there. The captain in question
was not in; so the nuns insisted on our seeing their lovely little
church and sacristy, after which they found a soldier who conducted us
to the British Headquarters which were then actually at Poperinghe.
There we were received with the greatest courtesy by Captain Liddell
who promised to do everything in his power to help us, but advised
us, at the same time, to apply to Commandant Delporte, of the Belgian
Constabulary, who would be better able than he to find a train to
convey us to Dunkerque or Boulogne.
We thanked the captain, and left to find the Belgian police station.
Having been directed several different ways, we eventually arrived
at our destination, and were received by an official who promised to
acquaint the Commandant with the reason of our visit as soon as he
should return, he being absent at the moment. We were about to leave,
when the door opened and M. le Commandant Delporte entered, and after
courteously saluting us, he begged us to take seats, and showed the
greatest interest in all that Mother Prioress related. He then said
that a train of refugees had left only the day before, and he could not
tell us when another would start. He referred us again to the general
staff, saying that, as we were British subjects, they ought certainly
to take us either in their ambulance cars or in a train for the wounded
on account of Our Lady Abbess who was paralysed, adding that he would
speak in our favour. We therefore turned our steps once more to where
we had come from, and having made known the result of our visit, we
were told to return the next day at 1.30 P.M., before which time
Captain Liddell would consult the Chief Medical Officer, and see what
could be done for us. We then took the road back to the convent, where
we were glad to find a warm shelter.
The next day was Friday. Captain Liddell had promised to call on
us, should anything be decided before 1.30. The town was, however,
suddenly thrown into a state of excitement by the passing of a German
Taube which dropped a bomb on St. Bertin’s Church. Fortunately it only
slightly injured the porch, though it wounded several persons standing
by. Amongst the injured was the chaplain of La Sainte Union, whose hand
was hurt. We were next informed that the British Headquarters had left
the town. What then would become of the arrangements for our journey
to England? Immediately Dame Columban and Dame Patrick offered to go
and see if any message had been left for us, poor Mother Prioress being
unwell, and therefore not able to go herself. The narrative is again
continued from the notes of Dame Columban and Dame Patrick:--
‘Having received Mother Prioress’ blessing, we started off, wondering
what we should find, perhaps an empty house? On our way we passed St.
Bertin’s Church, where a group of persons were gathered, watching
French soldiers clearing the road of the remains of bricks, stones,
glass, which were strewn about. Every window in the whole street
was broken. Hastening our steps we were soon in presence of Captain
Liddell, to whom we apologised for our early call, relating what we
had heard. He said that the staff had no intention of leaving as
yet, that as to our journey it would take several days to arrange,
for different persons would have to be consulted. The situation did
not seem very satisfactory, so, on taking our leave, we determined
to have recourse once more to the Belgian authorities. Just as we
arrived in sight of the building, to our great disappointment, we
saw the Commandant leaving in company with two British officers. We
immediately drew back, but, recognising us, he came forward, all
three officers giving a military salute. We begged him not to stop
for us, saying that we would call again, but he insisted on bringing
us into the house, telling the officers he would rejoin them shortly.
We stated, as briefly as possible, the unsatisfactory result of our
visit to the English Headquarters, and asked what was the best thing
to do. He told us that there was a train leaving the next day at 2.30
P.M., but that in all probability we should not enjoy the company.
We, of course, declared that this did not matter. However, he told us
to decide nothing as yet, saying he himself would go to arrange with
the British officers, and would call on Mother Prioress next morning.
We thanked him profusely, and once more turned our steps towards
La Sainte Union to acquaint Reverend Mother with the result of our
negotiations.’