ght it might be a good diversion for the time. My side-car was
brought up, and sitting on it, in the midst of the men, who crowded
about me on the ground, I gave them a long talk which lasted until it
was too dark for any more crown and anchor.

The next day brought us glorious weather, and from early in the
morning battalions were pouring into Tincques. The grounds were
splendidly laid out and bordered with many stands and marquees. There
must have been nearly forty-thousand spectators present. The Duke of
Connaught, Sir Robert Borden, and all sorts of great people attended,
and the playing of "O Canada" by the massed bands was something which,
as a British General told me, made a big lump come in one's throat. It
was the last Dominion Day we were to spend in France. We were on the
eve of tremendous events, and it was a splendid manifestation of
Canada's glory at the front. There was such a gathering of old friends
who had not met for years, that one really could not attend to the
various events and sports that were taking place. We met for a moment,
and the old days would be talked over, and then we parted, some, alas,
never to meet again in this world. That vast crowd which fringed the
huge expanse of ground was quite the most thrilling spectacle that
Canadians had ever seen. Tincques must be a quiet place now, and
perhaps only a few marks in the great field still remain to show where
the sports were held. But there were gathered there that day the vast
host of noble gentlemen who saved the honour and freedom of our young
country.

CHAPTER XXIX. (p. 267)

THE BEGINNING OF THE END.

_July to August 7th, 1918._

The possession of a side-car gave me the opportunity of getting much
further afield in my visits. Our 1st Divisional wing, where the new
drafts were received and trained for the front line, was at this time
back in a place called Loison, in the quiet and beautiful country
between St. Pol and General Headquarters. I had done a great deal of
parish visiting among our battalions in rest and given the story of my
leave trip to Rome many times, so I thought I would make an excursion
to the Base. We had a delightful trip down the St. Pol road through
little villages and towns which looked as they did in pre-war days.
The country where the Divisional wing was stationed was very charming.
It was well watered by many pretty rivers, and hills covered with