in flanders fields and other poems-第14章

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Our　position　was　quite　in　the　open。



With　Ian　Hamilton's　column　near　Balmoral。



The　day　was　cold；　much　like　a　December　day　at　home；　and　by　my　kit　going　astray
I　had　only　light　clothing。　　The　rain　was　fearfully　chilly。
When　we　got　in　about　dark　we　found　that　the　transport　could　not　come　up；
and　it　had　all　our　blankets　and　coats。　　I　had　my　cape　and　a　rubber　sheet
for　the　saddle；　both　soaking　wet。　　Being　on　duty　I　held　to　camp；
the　others　making　for　the　house　nearby　where　they　got　poor　quarters。
I　bunked　out；　supperless　like　every　one　else；　under　an　ammunition　wagon。
It　rained　most　of　the　night　and　was　bitterly　cold。　　I　slept　at　intervals；
keeping　the　same　position　all　night；　both　legs　in　a　puddle　and　my　feet
being　rained　on：　　it　was　a　long　night　from　dark　at　5。30　to　morning。
Ten　men　in　the　infantry　regiment　next　us　died　during　the　night　from　exposure。
Altogether　I　never　knew　such　a　night；　and　with　decent　luck　hope　never　to　see
such　another。


As　we　passed　we　saw　the　Connaughts　looking　at　the　graves　of　their　comrades
of　twenty　years　ago。　　The　Battery　rode　at　attention　and　gave　〃Eyes　right〃：
the　first　time　for　twenty　years　that　the　roll　of　a　British　gun　has　broken　in
on　the　silence　of　those　unnamed　graves。

We　were　inspected　by　Lord　Roberts。　　The　battery　turned　out　very　smart；
and　Lord　Roberts　complimented　the　Major　on　its　appearance。
He　then　inspected；　and　afterwards　asked　to　have　the　officers　called　out。
We　were　presented　to　him　in　turn；　he　spoke　a　few　words　to　each　of　us；
asking　what　our　corps　and　service　had　been。　　He　seemed　surprised
that　we　were　all　Field　Artillery　men；　but　probably　the　composition
of　the　other　Canadian　units　had　to　do　with　this。　　He　asked
a　good　many　questions　about　the　horses；　the　men；　and　particularly　about
the　spirits　of　the　men。　　Altogether　he　showed　a　very　kind　interest
in　the　battery。


At　nine　took　the　Presbyterian　parade　to　the　lines；　the　first
Presbyterian　service　since　we　left　Canada。　　We　had　the　right；
the　Gordons　and　the　Royal　Scots　next。　　The　music　was　excellent；
led　by　the　brass　band　of　the　Royal　Scots；　which　played　extremely　well。
All　the　singing　was　from　the　psalms　and　paraphrases：　　〃Old　Hundred〃
and　〃Duke　Street〃　among　them。　　It　was　very　pleasant　to　hear　the　old　reliables
once　more。　　〃McCrae's　Covenanters〃　some　of　the　officers　called　us；
but　I　should　not　like　to　set　our　conduct　up　against　the　standard
of　those　austere　men。



At　Lyndenburg：



The　Boers　opened　on　us　at　about　10；000　yards；　the　fire　being　accurate
from　the　first。　　They　shelled　us　till　dark；　over　three　hours。
The　guns　on　our　left　fired　for　a　long　time　on　Buller's　camp；
the　ones　on　our　right　on　us。　　We　could　see　the　smoke　and　flash；
then　there　was　a　soul…consuming　interval　of　20　to　30　seconds
when　we　would　hear　the　report；　and　about　five　seconds　later　the　burst。
Many　in　succession　burst　over　and　all　around　us。　　I　picked　up　pieces
which　fell　within　a　few　feet。　　It　was　a　trying　afternoon；
and　we　stood　around　wondering。　　We　moved　the　horses　back；
and　took　cover　under　the　wagons。　　We　were　thankful　when　the　sun　went　down；
especially　as　for　the　last　hour　of　daylight　they　turned　all　their　guns　on　us。
The　casualties　were　few。

The　next　morning　a　heavy　mist　prevented　the　enemy　from　firing。
The　division　marched　out　at　7。30　A。M。　　The　attack　was　made　in　three　columns：
cavalry　brigade　on　the　left；　Buller's　troops　in　the　centre；　Hamilton's　on
the　right。　　The　Canadian　artillery　were　with　Hamilton's　division。
The　approach　to　the　hill　was　exposed　everywhere　except　where　some　cover
was　afforded　by　ridges。　　We　marched　out　as　support　to　the　Gordons；
the　cavalry　and　the　Royal　Horse　Artillery　going　out　to　our　right
as　a　flank　guard。　　While　we　were　waiting　three　100…pound　shells
struck　the　top　of　the　ridge　in　succession　about　50　to　75　yards　in　front
of　the　battery　line。　　We　began　to　feel　rather　shaky。

On　looking　over　the　field　at　this　time　one　could　not　tell
that　anything　was　occurring　except　for　the　long　range　guns　replying
to　the　fire　from　the　hill。　　The　enemy　had　opened　fire　as　soon　as　our　advance
was　pushed　out。　　With　a　glass　one　could　distinguish　the　infantry　pushing　up
in　lines；　five　or　six　in　succession；　the　men　being　some　yards　apart。
Then　came　a　long　pause；　broken　only　by　the　big　guns。　　At　last　we　got　the　order
to　advance　just　as　the　big　guns　of　the　enemy　stopped　their　fire。
We　advanced　about　four　miles　mostly　up　the　slope；　which　is　in　all
about　1500　feet　high；　over　a　great　deal　of　rough　ground
and　over　a　number　of　spruits。　　The　horses　were　put　to　their　utmost
to　draw　the　guns　up　the　hills。　　As　we　advanced　we　could　see　artillery
crawling　in　from　both　flanks；　all　converging　to　the　main　hill；　while　far　away
the　infantry　and　cavalry　were　beginning　to　crown　the　heights　near　us。
Then　the　field　guns　and　the　pompoms　began　to　play。　　As　the　field　guns
came　up　to　a　broad　plateau　section　after　section　came　into　action；
and　we　fired　shrapnel　and　lyddite　on　the　crests　ahead　and　to　the　left。
Every　now　and　then　a　rattle　of　Mausers　and　Metfords　would　tell　us
that　the　infantry　were　at　their　work；　but　practically　the　battle　was　over。
From　being　an　infantry　attack　as　expected　it　was　the　gunners'　day；
and　the　artillery　seemed　to　do　excellent　work。

General　Buller　pushed　up　the　hill　as　the　guns　were　at　work；
and　afterwards　General　Hamilton；　the　one　as　grim　as　his　pictures；
the　other　looking　very　happy。　　The　wind　blew　through　us　cold　like　ice
as　we　stood　on　the　hill；　as　the　artillery　ceased　fire　the　mist　dropped　over　us
chilling　us　to　the　bone。　　We　were　afraid　we　should　have　to　spend　the　night
on　the　hill；　but　a　welcome　order　came　sending　us　back　to　camp；
a　distance　of　five　miles　by　the　roads；　as　Buller　would　hold　the　hill；
and　our　force　must　march　south。　　Our　front　was　over　eight　miles　wide
and　the　objective　1500　feet　higher　than　our　camp；　and　over　six　miles　away。
If　the　enemy　had　had　the　nerve　to　stand；　the　position　could　scarcely
have　been　taken；　certainly　not　without　the　loss　of　thousands。



For　this　campaign　he　received　the　Queen's　Medal　with　three　clasps。




　　VI

Children　and　Animals



Through　all　his　life；　and　through　all　his　letters；　dogs　and　children
followed　him　as　shadows　follow　men。　　To　walk　in　the　streets　with　him
was　a　slow　procession。　　Every　dog　and　every　child　one　met　must　be　spoken　to；
and　each　made　answer。　　Throughout　the　later　letters　the　names
Bonfire　and　Bonneau　occur　continually。　　Bonfire　was　his　horse；
and　Bonneau　his　dog。

This　horse；　an　Irish　hunter；　was　given　to　him　by　John　L。　Todd。
It　was　wounded　twice；　and　now　lives　in　honourable　retirement
at　a　secret　place　which　need　not　be　disclosed　to　the　army　authorities。
One　officer　who　had　visited　the　hospital　writes　of　seeing　him
going　about　the　wards　with　Bonneau　and　a　small　French　child　following　after。
In　memory　of　his　love　for　animals　and　children　the　following　extracts
will　serve：



You　ask　if　the　wee　fellow　has　a　name　　Mike；　mostly；　as　a　term　of　affection。
He　has　found　a　cupboard　in　one　ward　in　which　oakum　is　stored；
and　he　loves　to　steal　in　there　and　〃pick　oakum〃；　amusing　himself
as　long　as　is　permitted。　　I　hold　that　this　indicates　convict　ancestry
to　which　Mike　makes　no　defence。


The　family　is　very　well；　even　one…eyed　Mike　is　able　to　go　round　the　yard
in　his　dressing…gown；　so　to　speak。　　He　is　a　queer　pathetic　little　beast
and　Madame　has　him　〃hospitalized〃　on　the　bottom　shelf　of　the　sideboard
in　the　living　room；　whence　he　comes　down　（six　inches　to　the　floor）
to　greet　me；　and　then　gravely　hirples　back；　the　hind　legs　looking
very　pathetic　as　he　hops　in。　　But　he　is　full　of　spirit　and　is　doing　very　well。


As　to　the　animals　　〃those　poor　voiceless　creatures；〃　say　you。　　I　wish
you　could　hear　them。　　Bonneau　and　Mike　are　a　perfect　Dignity　and　Impudence；
and　both　vocal　to　a　wonderful　degree。　　Mike's　face　is　exactly　like　the　terrier
in　the　old　picture；　and　he　sits　up　and　gives　his　paw　just　like　Bonneau；
and　I　never　saw　him　have　any　instruction；　and　as　for　voice；
I　wish　you　could　hear　Bonfire's　〃whicker〃　to　me　in　the　stable　or　elsewhere。
It　is　all　but　talk。　　There　is　one　ward　door　that　he　tries　whenever　we　pass。
He　turns　his　head　aro