Front matter
Reading edition
Transcriber's Note:
Inconsistent hyphenation in the original document has been preserved.
Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. For a complete list, please see the end of this document.
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ON THE RIGHT OF THE BRITISH LINE
From a photograph by Aylett.
Captain Gilbert Nobbs.ToList
ON THE RIGHT OF THE BRITISH LINE
BY
CAPTAIN GILBERT NOBBS
(LATE L.R.B.)
NEW YORK CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS 1917
Copyright, 1917, by CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS Published September, 1917
BESIDES THE MAN WHO FIGHTS THERE IS THE WOMAN WHO WAITS, AND IN HUMBLE TRIBUTE TO HER SILENT HEROISM I DEDICATE THIS BOOK
PREFACEToC
This is my first book. It is also my last. But I have a record to make and a duty to perform. I was five weeks on the firing line; four weeks mourned as dead; and three months a prisoner of war.
I have attempted to make a true record of all that happened. The names alone are fictitious (all except that of Saniez), for those days were too full of stirring events which will long live in my memory to need the aid of fiction. If I have dwelt at some length upon my experience in Germany, it is with the hope that the information may be of interest to those who have relatives and friends still in the hands of the enemy and burn to know the truth.
I do not deplore the loss of my sight, for I can say in all sincerity that I was never happier in my life than I am to-day.
G.N.
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. Fovant ORDERLY ROOM. OFF TO THE FRONT. 1
II. The Silent Heroes THE WOMAN WHO WAITS—AND SUFFERS IN SILENCE. 6
III. Departure for the Front WATERLOO STATION. LUNCHEON ARGUMENTS. THE BAGGAGE PROBLEM. 9
IV. Crossing the Channel THE DOCK PORTER. A WHIFF OF BOND STREET. 15
V. Going up the Line PERFIDIOUS GANG-PLANKS. D'ARCY STRANDED. GUIDES WHO CANNOT GUIDE. A HEATED ARGUMENT. 24
VI. Rations I LEARN TO HATE FOOD. MATHEMATICAL PROBLEMS. 33
VII. St. Amand I REPORT AT HEADQUARTERS. THE PROBLEM OF VENTILATION. 37
VIII. Early Impressions BILLETS. A STARTLING INCIDENT. REST CAMP. 41
IX. Departure for the Somme CORBIE. HAPPY VALLEY. PASSING THROUGH THE GUNS. 48
X. Arrival on the Somme FEEDING THE GUNS. SEPTIMUS D'ARCY ARRIVES. A CURIOUS KIT. 57
XI. Death Valley MOVING OVER BATTLE-FIELDS. —— BATTALION, LONDON REGIMENT, IN POSSESSION. THE MYSTERY TRENCH. FALFEMONT FARM. 66
XII. Out in No Man's Land SUDDEN ORDERS. THE BEGINNING OF A GREAT ADVENTURE. DIGGING IN. 71
XIII. A Night of Alarm SEPTIMUS IN A NEW RÔLE. SAVING THE AMMUNITION. THE LAST CARTRIDGE. 82
XIV. Next Morning A COUNCIL OF WAR. OPERATION ORDERS. A BITTER DISAPPOINTMENT. 87
XV. The Advance through Leuze Wood NEW OPERATION ORDERS. "AT ANY COST." LIKE RATS IN A TRAP. 91
XVI. The Attack A DESPERATE SITUATION. BATTLE FORMATION. "FOR ENGLAND." 101
XVII. At Any Cost OVER THE TOP. MAD, FIGHTING MAD. THE FINAL ASSAULT. 110
XVIII. Left on the Field THE MYSTERY OF DEATH. THE SECRET CODE. TWO TERRIBLE DAYS. 116
XIX. The Jaws of Death LONELINESS, DARKNESS, AND SILENCE. A LAST EFFORT. I PREPARE FOR DEATH. 123
XX. At the Mercy of the Hun—and After A BASIN OF SOUP. HOSPITAL AT ST. QUENTIN. THE "OPEN SESAME." 130
XXI. Alive 143
XXII. Blindness 147
XXIII. The Woman Who Waits THE TELEGRAPH BOY'S RAT-TAT. KILLED IN ACTION. WEEKS OF MOURNING. 151
XXIV. Ward 43, Reserve Lazarette 5, Hanover OCCUPANTS OF THE WARD. CHIVALRY OF THE AIR. 156
XXV. Saniez 160
XXVI. Life in Hanover Hospital HOSPITAL DIET. INTERVIEWED BY A GERMAN DOCTOR. DISCHARGED FROM HOSPITAL. 166
XXVII. Observations and Impressions EMPLOYMENT OF PRISONERS. PARCELS. MEN OF MONS. 176
XXVIII. Stories of the Heroes of Mons 187
XXIX. Osnabruck ARRIVAL IN CAMP. THE CANTEEN. DAILY ROUTINE. RATIONS. PARCELS. NEWS. 199
XXX. Comedy and Drama I SALUTE THE WALL. THE STORY OF AN EGG. A NOVEL BANQUET. JOY RIDE ON A LORRY. THE SWISS COMMISSION. 215
XXXI. Free I BLUFF THE GERMAN SERGEANT. AACHEN. TWO BOTTLES OF WINE. ACROSS THE FRONTIER. GREAT SCOTT! I AM CHARGED FOR MY OWN DEATH EXPENSES. 227
ILLUSTRATIONS
Captain Gilbert Nobbs Frontispiece
Captain Nobbs after his release from the German prison Facing page 164