CHAPTERIV

chapteriv

boulognewasaportthroughwhichallouryouthpassedbetweenenglandandthelong,straightroadwhichledtonoman'sland.theseven-day-leavemenwerecomingbackbyeverytide,andallotherleavewascanceled.

new“drafts”werepouringthroughtheportbytensofthousands—allmannerofmenofallourbreedmarchinginlongcolumnsfromthequayside,wheretheyhadordersyelledatthemthroughmegaphonesbya.p.m.'s,r.t.o.'s,a.m.l.o.'s,andotherbluetabbedofficerswhodealtwiththemascattlefortheslaughterhouses.iwatchedthemlandingfromthetransportswhichcameinsodenselycrowdedwiththehumanfreightthatthemenwerewedgedtogetheronthedeckslikeherringsinbarrels.theycrossedfromoneboattoanothertoreachthegangways,andonebyone,interminablyasitseemed,withriflegrippedandpackhunched,andsteelhatclatteringlikeatinker'skettle,camedowntheinclinedplankandlurchedashore.theywereenglishladsfromeverycountry;scots,irish,welsh,ofeveryregiment;australians,new-zealanders,southafricans,canadians,westindiannegroesofthegarrisonartillery;sikhs,pathans,anddograsoftheindiancavalry.someofthemhadbeensickandtherewasagreenishpallorontheirfaces.mostofthemweredeeplytanned.manyofthemsteppedonthequaysideoffranceforthefirsttimeaftermonthsoftraining,andicouldtellthose,sometimes,bythefurtivelooktheygaveatthecrowdedsceneaboutthem,andbyasuddenglintintheireyes,afaintreflectionoftheemotionthatwasinthem,becausethiswasanotherstageontheiradventureofwar,andthedrawbridgewasdownatlastbetweenthemandtheenemy.thatwasall,justthatlook,andlipstightenednowgrimly,andthepackhunchedhigher.thentheyfellinbynumberandmarchedaway,withredcapstoguardthem,acrossthebridge,intothetownofboulogneandbeyondtothegreatcampnearetaples(andnearthehospital,sothatgermanaircrafthadagoodargumentforsmashingredcrosshuts),wheresomeofthemwouldwaituntilsomebodysaid,“you'rewanted.”theywerewantedindrovesassoonasthefightingbeganonthefirstdayofjuly.

thebunshopsinboulognewerefilledwithnurses,v.a.d.'s,allkindsofgirlsinuniformswhichglintedwithshoulder-strapsandbuttons.theyatelargequantitiesofbunsatoddhoursofmorningsandafternoons.flying-menandofficersofallkindswaitingfortrainscrowdedthefolkestonehotelandrestaurants,wheretheyspenttwohoursoverluncheonandthreehoursoverdinner,drinkingredwine,talking“shop”—theshopoftrench-mortarunits,machine-gunsections,cavalrysquadrons,air-fighting,gasschools,andanti-gasschools.regularinhabitantsofboulogne,officersatthebase,passedtoinnerroomswithfrenchladiesofdangerousappearance,andthetransientsenviedthemandsaid:“thosefellowshavealltheluck!what'stheirsecret?howdotheyarrangethesecushiejobs?”fromopenwindowscamethemusicofgramophones.throughhalf-drawncurtainstherewereglimpsesofkhakitunicsandsambrownbeltsinjuxt'itionwithsilkblousesandcoiledhairandwhitearms.oppositethefolkestonetherewasaparkofambulancesdrivenby“scottishwomen,”whowerealwaysonthemovefromonepartofthetowntotheother.motor-carscamehootingwithstaff-officers,allaglowinredtabsandarmbands,thirstyforlittlecocktailsafteradustydrive.everywhereinthestreetsandontheesplanadetherewasincessantsaluting.thearmsofmenwereneverstill.itwaslikethest.vitusdisease.tommiesandjockssalutedeverysubalternwithanautomaticgestureofconvulsiveenergy.everysubalternacknowledgedthesemovementsandinturnsalutedamultitudeofmajors,colonels,andgenerals.thethingbecamefarcical,amonstrousabsurdityofhumanrelationship,yetpleasingtothevanityofmenliftedupabovethelowestcaste.itseemedtomeanintensificationofthesnobinstinctinthesoulofman.onlytheaustraliansstoodoutagainstit,andwentbyallofficersexcepttheirownwithacarelessslouchandalookof“tohellwithallthating.”

seatedonhighstoolsinthefolkestone,ouryoungofficersclinkedtheircocktails,andthenwhisperedtogether.

“when'sitcoming?”

“inafewdays...i'mforthegommecourtsector.”

“doyouthinkweshallgetthrough?”

“notadoubtofit.thecavalryaremassingforagreatdrive.assoonaswemakethegapthey'llrideintotheblue.”

“bygod!...there'llbesomeslaughter.”

“ithinktheoldbochewillcrackthistime.”

“well,cheerio!”

therewasasenseofenormousdramaathand,andtheexcitementofitinboys'heartsedalldoubtandfears.itwasonlytheoldermen,andtheintrospective,whosufferedfromthetortureofapprehension.eventimidfellowsintherankswere,iimagine,strengthenedandexaltedbythecommunalcourageoftheircompanyorbattalion,forcourageaswellasfearisinfectious,andthepsychologyofthecrowdupliftstheindividualtoimmenseheightsofdaringwhenalonehewouldbeterror—stricken.thepublic-schoolspiritofprideinnameandtraditionwasineachbattalionofthenewarmy,extendedlatertothedivision,whichbecametheunitofespritdecorps.theymustnot“letthebattaliondown.”theywoulddotheirdamnedesttogetfartherthananyothercrowd,tobagmoreprisoners,togainmore“kudos.”therewasrivalryevenamongtheplatoonsandthecompanies.“a”companywouldshow“b”companythewaytogo!theirsergeant-majorwasagreatfellow!theirplatooncommanderswerefinekids!withanythinglikeachance—

inthatspirit,asfarasi,anoutsidercouldseeandhear,didourbattalionsofboysmarchforwardto“thegreatpush,”whistling,singing,jesting,untiltheirlipsweredryandtheirthroatsparchedinthedust,andeventhemerriestjestersofallweresilentundertheweightoftheirpacksandrifles.sotheymovedupdaybyday,throughthebeautyofthatjuneinfrance,thousandsofmen,hundredsofthousandstotheedgeofthebattlefieldsofthesomme,wheretheenemywasintrenchedinfortresspositionsandwherealready,beforethelastdaysofjune,gunfirewasflamingoveravastsweepofcountry.