An Onlooker in France 1917-1919   By: William Orpen (1878-1931)

AN ONLOOKER IN FRANCE

[Illustration: I. Field Marshal Earl Haig of Bemersyde, O.M., K.T., etc. ]

AN ONLOOKER IN FRANCE

1917 1919

BY SIR WILLIAM ORPEN, K.B.E., R.A.

LONDON WILLIAMS AND NORGATE 1921

Pictures and Text, Copyright 1921 by Sir William Orpen, K.B.E., R.A.

Printed in Great Britain by Richard Clay & Sons, Limited, Paris Garden, Stamford St., S.E. 1, and Bungay, Suffolk.

PREFACE (p. v)

This book must not be considered as a serious work on life in France behind the lines, it is merely an attempt to record some certain little incidents that occurred in my own life there.

The only thought I wish to convey is my sincere thanks for the wonderful opportunity that was given me to look on and see the fighting man, and to learn to revere and worship him that is the only serious thing. I wish to express my worship and reverence to that gallant company, and to convey to those who are left my most sincere thanks for all their marvellous kindness to me, a mere looker on.

CONTENTS

Chap. Page

PREFACE v

I. TO FRANCE (APRIL 1917) 11

II. THE SOMME (APRIL 1917) 16

III. AT BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS AND ST. POL (MAY JUNE 1917) 25

IV. THE YPRES SALIENT (JUNE JULY 1917) 31

V. THE SOMME IN SUMMER TIME (AUGUST 1917) 36

VI. THE SOMME (SEPTEMBER 1917) 42

VII. WITH THE FLYING CORPS (OCTOBER 1917) 50

VIII. CASSEL AND IN HOSPITAL (NOVEMBER 1917) 55

IX. WINTER (1917 1918) 62

X. LONDON (MARCH JUNE 1918) 67

XI. BACK IN FRANCE (JULY SEPTEMBER 1918) 75

XII. AMIENS (OCTOBER 1918) 84

XIII. NEARING THE END (OCTOBER 1918) 90

XIV. THE PEACE CONFERENCE 98

XV. PARIS DURING THE PEACE CONFERENCE 111

XVI. THE SIGNING OF THE PEACE 116

INDEX 121

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Plate

I. Field Marshal Earl Haig of Bemersyde, O.M., K.T., etc. Frontispiece

II. The Bapaume Road. 12

III. Men Resting, La Boisselle. 15

IV. A Tank, Pozières. 17

V. Warwickshires entering Péronne. 19

VI. No Man's Land. 21

VII. Three Weeks in France: Shell shock. 24

VIII. Man in the Glare, Two Miles from the Hindenburg Line. 27

IX. Air Marshal Sir H. M. Trenchard, Bart., K.C.B., etc. 29

X. A Howitzer in Action. 30

XI. German 'Planes visiting Cassel. 33

XII. Soldiers and Peasants, Cassel. 35

XIII. German Prisoners 37