Primary tabs
Transcription
[page 60]
117
(2).
Corbie to Abbeville some four months back. The trees on either bank of the Somme, then so dense and brilliantly green, were the only things I could see through the open roof of the barge. Now they are but an avenue of stocks through which the river runs. Although unlike the poplar in many respects, I fancy they must be one of that family: for the purpose of bordering a river I have never seen a more suitable tree so tall and straight do they grow.
Amiens is the next town of any size and its tall Cathedral visible for miles around seems like an old friend. I well remember how on our treck from Amiens to Albert - we marched for three days before we lost sight of that steeple and then almost immediately we picked up the partially ruined spier at Albert. This latter land- mark surmounted by the partially tumbled figure peeping over the hill near Becourt Wood was visible to us in the trenches (i.e. on the Eastern side of Albert) if not at Pozieres, certainly as far as Contalmaison. Why it was not pulled down I can't understand, for it must have been an excellent direction mark for the German gunners in their search for our battery positions round about Albert. Sentiment (one of the Allies worst enemies) was probably the reason.
From Amiens another couple of hours brings us to Paris where we arrive at seven o'clock in the evening. The train for the South leaves from the other side of Paris at 8.15 p.m. and the time occupied in crossing Paris by car from the Gare de Nord to the Gare de Lyon is about 20 minutes. It is apparently the intention of the British Army that Paris shall remain a sealed book to its officers. From the time we arrived at the Gare de Nord until the train left for the South a Major from the R.T.O.'s office never had us out of his sight. Whilst we had dinner, he sat on the bottom step of the Restaurante and I'm sure he didn't breathe freely until the Riviera train started. One cannot see much of Paris in an hour and a quarter