ANCED-GUARD ACTION 109

XX DEFENCE 117

XXI THE DEFENCE OF THE BRANDY 122

XXII STRATEGY AS YOU LIKE IT 126

XXIII THE LAST ADVANCE 133

XXIV SATURDAY NIGHT 141

XXV THE CROSSING OF THE AISNE 151

XXVI THE CELLARS OF POUSSEY 161

XXVII THE FIRST TRENCHES 168

XXVIII IN RESERVE AT SOUVIR 177

XXIX TO STRAIGHTEN THE LINE 186

XXX THE JAWS OF DEATH 193

XXXI THE FIELD HOSPITAL 204

XXXII OPERATION 213

XXXIII ST. NAZAIRE 219

XXXIV SOMEWHERE IN MAYFAIR 221

CHAPTER I

LEAVING ENGLAND

No cheers, no handkerchiefs, no bands. Nothing that even suggested the
time-honoured scene of soldiers leaving home to fight the Empire's
battles. Parade was at midnight. Except for the lighted windows of the
barracks, and the rush of hurrying feet, all was dark and quiet. It was
more like ordinary night operations than the dramatic departure of a
Unit of the First British Expeditionary Force to France.

As the Battalion swung into the road, the Subaltern could not help
thinking that this was indeed a queer send-off. A few sergeants' wives,
standing at the corner of the Parade ground, were saying good-bye to
their friends as they passed. "Good-bye, Bill;" "Good luck, Sam!" Not a
hint of emotion in their voices. One might have thought that husbands
and fathers went away to risk their lives in war every day of the week.
And if the men were at all moved at leaving what had served for their
home, they hid it remarkably well. Songs were soon breaking out from all
parts of the column of route. As the Club House, and then the Golf Club,
stole silently up and disappeared behind him, the Subaltern wondered
whether he would ever see them again. But he refused to let his
thoughts drift in this channel. Meanwhile, the weight of the
mobilisation kit was almost intolerable.

In an hour the station was reached. An engine was shunting up and down,
piecing the troop trains together, and in twenty minutes the Battalion
was shuffling down the platform, the empty trains on either side. Two
companies were to go to each train, twelve men to a third-class
compartment, N.C.O.s second class, Officers firs