Before leaving Belgium we arranged with a priest to have masses said
for the souls of our dead chums, and we scraped together what odd money
we had, but his reverence wouldn’t hear of taking our money for prayers
for the relief of the brave lads who had died so far from the Old Land
to rid Belgian soil of the unmannerly German scrubs. When we got here
we sang “Paddies Evermore,” and then we were off to chapel to pray for
the souls of the lads that are gone: _Private McGlade_.
Convalescent!
By the address, you will see I am at my winter hotel, but,
unfortunately, am confined to my room by a slight indisposition. As a
matter of fact, I have been wounded in my left leg by a sweet little
German humming-bird, or bullet, which wanted a good home. This place
is a magnificent hotel, and we are very comfortable here. I am in a
spacious ball-room, beautifully decorated. The kindness of the French
people is wonderful, and an example to some of the Britishers, who in
time of peace won’t look at a redcoat: _Lance-Corporal Hawkins_.
A Strange “Bisley”
We were down to the last cigarette in a box that had done the company
for a week. There was a fight to get it, but the sergeant-major said
we would have to shoot for it like the King’s Prize at Bisley. It was
to go to the man hitting the most Germans in fifty shots. A corporal
was sent up a tree to signal hits and misses as best he could.
Half the company entered, and the prize was won by a chap who had
twenty-three hits. The runner-up had twenty-two, and, as a sort of
consolation prize, he was allowed to sit near while the winner smoked
the cigarette. He said being near the smoke was better than nothing: _A
Private of the Scottish Rifles_.
“Tiddlers!”
We billeted for two days at a place two days’ march from Belgium, and
had a pretty good time bathing, and--what was most amusing--fishing in
a small pond for “tiddlers.” I and a chum went to a woman at a house
and, making her understand the best way we could, begged some cotton
and a couple of pins. We had a couple of hours’ fishing, and captured
quite two dozen, although before long lots of our chaps caught the
complaint and did the same as we did, causing much amusement. I suppose
that Frenchwoman had to buy a new stock of cotton, but she was a good
sort and was as much amused as the soldiers: _Pte. Purgue, of the Royal
Fusiliers_.