me, I had to be exceedingly careful--and when,
as in the first two or three chapters, my letters were written several
weeks after the events, something was sure to crop up in the meantime
that unconsciously but definitely altered the memory of experiences....

We have known together two of the people I have mentioned in this
book--Alec and Gibson. They have both advanced so far that we have lost
touch with them. I had thought that it would be a great joy to publish a
first book, but this book is ugly with sorrow. I shall never be able to
write "Alec and I" again--and he was the sweetest and kindest of my
friends, a friend of all the world. Never did he meet a man or woman
that did not love him. The Germans have killed Alec. Perhaps among the
multitudinous Germans killed there are one or two German Alecs. Yet I am
still meeting people who think that war is a fine bracing thing for the
nation, a sort of national week-end at Brighton.

Then there was Gibson, who proved for all time that nobody made a better
soldier than the young don--and those whose names do not come into this
book....

Robert, you and I know what to think of this Brighton theory. We are
only just down from Oxford, and perhaps things strike us a little more
passionately than they should.

You have seen the agony of war. You have seen those miserable people
that wander about behind the line like pariah dogs in the streets. You
know what is behind "Tommy's invincible gaiety." Let us pray together
for a time when the publishing of a book like this will be regarded with
fierce shame.

So long and good luck!

Ever yours,
WILLIAM.

PIRBRIGHT HUTS,
1/10/15.

* * * * *

The day after I had written this letter the news came to me that Robert
Whyte had been killed. The letter must stand--I have not the heart to
write another.

W.H.L.W.
PIRBRIGHT HUTS.

CONTENTS.

CHAP. PAGE

I. ENLISTING 1

II. THE JOURNEY TO THE FRONT 12

III. THE BATTLE OF MONS 26

IV. THE BATTLE OF LE CATEAU 40

V. THE GREAT RETREAT 51

VI. OVER THE MARNE TO THE AISNE 76

VII. THE BATTLE OF THE AISNE 105

VIII. THE MOVE TO THE NORTH 140

IX. ROUND LA BASSEE 167

X. THE BEGINNING OF WINT