T H E C O V E N A N T E R
my Brigade, for it is only such personal let me down. (I put it that way.) He is
experience that enables a commander a lawyer by profession - or, I suppose, a
to realise what his army suffers, what its lawyer’s clerk (41 years old), and so fancied
limitations, and therefore how to help he knew all about law and all that sort of
it through its business with the least thing, besides being full of a sense of the
discomfort possible“ injustice of things in general. I know jolly
well I should never have boiled him for the
november 12th, 1916 stupid little error he originally committed;
I find my Brigade a very untidy one at but then, of course, C.O.s differ in their
present, and had a shock yesterday at an opinions and methods.
inspection of one unit. In fact, I only got as However, it is satisfactory that a man
far as seeing a few men, and then declined who, at his age, gives up his profession, left
to go on. However, it is the case of a new his wife and children to enlist a year ago, is
broom, and I shall get things done my way saved from himself, instead of going to goal
in time, and don’t mean to hustle them for two years, which would have been his
too much at first, but give them plenty inevitable fate had he persisted. So he left
of time to assimilate my views - and carry me with a cigarette in his mouth, a good
them out. I find I have to begin at my very deal of ‘pani’ (water) in his eyes, and every
door, with the hundred odd men forming intention in his mind of not playing the
Brigade H.Q., who, most of them, look like ass in future. And I pray that he may find it
street waifs, so badly are they turned out. It possible to keep square.
does not appear to have been rubbed into
the new army officers of the Brigade that november 28th, 1916
personal smartness is the foundation of I haven’t been so proud and happy
discipline and fighting. But they’ve jolly for many a long day, for to-day’s Times
well got to learn that it is - or, at any rate, announces the two V.C’s. for my regiment
that I think so” (12th Middlesex). Isn’t it splendid? The
story of their deeds isn’t so well told as I
november 18th, 1916 told it, or rather doesn’t bring out their real
I have just had a curious interview with a salient points of gallantry. But that doesn’t
man. Downed by his C.O. for some trivial so much matter; the chief and great point
offense some time ago, he considered is that they have both got it. And if the
himself unjustly dealt with, and refused 12th Middlesex haven’t made a record for
to carry out the punishment. - Result C. practically one day and night’s fighting, I’d
Martial. C.M. gave him three months be glad to be told who beats it. Two V.C’s.,
“field imprisonment,” which means he four Military Crosses, three D.C.M.’s and
carried on with his regiment, and had thirty-four Military Medals (plus my old
his spare hours filled in with all sorts of D.S.O. bar). If only my fifth M.C. had not
punishments, etc. Still feeling aggrieved, been omitted I should have no fly in my
he declined to carry out the sentence - very sweet ointment”
i.e sat down and refused to undergo the *Note: These awards refer to the capture of
penalties it was his lot to endure for three the German stronghold at Thiépval, now
months. ‘Remanded’ therefore by his C.O. the site of the great Somme war Memorial,
for another C.M., which was what he on 27th September 1916, when Maxwell’s
was after, poor chap, thinking at the next battalion played a major part under his
one he got he would be able to say all he personal leadership.
wanted about the unfairness of his original
treatment, etc., and so get the whole December 12th, 1916
thing, including the last sentence by C.M., Such a sweet thing in days. Snow, rain,
cancelled. Fortunately, the C.O., knowing snow, and pretty bitter cold on top. I went
now my dislike to C.M. told me of the case; up to the trenches waded about, slush up
on which I asked him to see the man like a to my shins in the front trench, which
father, and put him on the right lines. He made me very sorry for the poor men in it.
did so, but failing to persuade him, told Everything so absolutely beastly-trenches
him that I had promised to see him if he already knocked about by fire, falling in
failed. So in he came and we sat down and continually from the weather; no drainage
talked things out, and in a quarter of an at the bottom, so melted snow deep in it.
hour we had it all square, and with very No dug-outs, as these have (quite right)
watery eyes he promised to play up and not been forbidden to be used in the front line,
21
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