Stretcher Bearers at the Double - ElectricCanadian.com

"SUNNY FRANCE 59
Gradually appeared the first sign of approaching dawn -
a diffused and fascinating glow of color, tinting the eastern
clouds and landscape. The crimson glory of the distant horizon
impressed us as being a beautiful yet portentous symbol, not only
of a new day but of a new and tempestuous existence for the
unit now marching eastward. There lay the answer to questions
we would never voice and to vague premonitions each and
every one of us. would have refused to admit ever having experi
enced. From the same direction came a heavy rumbling of gun
fire - - the morning hymn of hate.
Tall graceful elms and poplars lined both sides of the hard
convex road. Odd-looking farmyards met our eye, and their
cesspools assaulted our nostrils. The new steel-shod Kitchener
boots chafed our heels.
Shortly after daylight came the welcome halt for breakfast. We
were marched into a field just outside the small town of Arques.
Here were some newly-made haystacks and over the field lay
considerable hay that had not yet been gathered. Some of the
men made themselves comfortable on this straw bedding, while
others hurried off to the town for supplies of food and drink.
Messrs. Vin Blanc and Vin Rouge &*&
In Arques the lads had their first experiences of buying in French
shops. Most of the bargaining was done in the sign language,
for, in those early days, epicene, boulanger and/orgeron all meant
about the same to us.
Here, too, some of fellows made their first
acquaintance with those two future standbys, Vin Blanc and
Vin Rouge. A few may remember the violent headaches the stuff
gave them before the day s march was finished.
Breakfast was over about 8 a.m. and we moved off again,
arriving at Hazebrouck (Pop. 13,000) about 1 p.m. Here we
had dinner and rested until three o clock. The day had become
oppressively hot, so as soon as we halted, off came kits, rolled
coats, tunics, puttees, blankets and Kitchener boots. Feet were
bathed and blisters attended to. Here, too, we saw our first evi
dence of shell-fire. A German Taube flew high over our heads
and all round it were the fluff-like puffs of bursting anti-aircraft
shells. The German flew on his way unharmed, however, in spite
of the shells and our fervid prayers that he would be hit. As a