In the Field (1914-1915): The Impressions of an Officer of Light Cavalry

raw on which we had slept, I and my friend F. had a very disagreeable surprise: we heard in the darkn

l of eighty, had placed at our disposal a small bare room paved with tiles, in which our orderlies had prepared a sumptuous bed of trusses of

aining,"

ers, and especially cavalrymen, know to the full how disp

will be transformed into two little pools in which your feet paddle woefully. It means broken roads, mud splashing you up to the eyes, horses slipping, reins stiffened, your saddle transformed into a hip-bath. It me

s ran: "Horses to be saddled, and squadron ready

re was not a breath of wind. When once our cloaks were on it would take some hours for the wet to reach our shirts. At the farther end of the yard some men were moving about round a small fire. Their shadows pas

ide to side to avoid the puddles. Daylight appeared, pa

siness. Small and lean, and tightly buttoned into his tunic, in spite of all our trials he was still the typical smart light cavalry non-commissioned officer. I knew he had already gone round

went to get my orders from the Captain, who was lodged in the market-square. No word had yet been received from the Colonel, who was quartered at the farm of Vadiville, two kilometres off. Patience! We had been used to these long waits since the army had been

es are huddled together, and seem to be grouped at the foot of the ridges for protection from the north wind. The few alleys which intersect

churches we had passed. Some of them were closed because the parish priests had left for the army, or because the village had been abandoned to t

rway of greyish stone, climbing up between moss-grown walls. I first passed through the modest little

Here lies ... P

e drops from the grass. The damp seemed to be getting into my bones, for it was still drizzling-a fine persisten

d entered the church, and at once experienced a feeling of relaxation, of comfort and

ble cheap modern stained windows, but a multitude of small white rectangular leaded panes. All this was simple and worn; but to me it seemed to breathe a noble and touching po

s. But those who preserved it to the present day had avoided the lamentable plastering which disfigures so many others. The walls were built with fine large stones, on which time had

dornment, and they were so simple and childish in their execution that they were no doubt

s and like a phantom. At the bottom of the steps another form was kneeling, bowed down towards the floor; it did not stir as I approached. I went towards the choir on tip-toe, very cautiously. I felt that I, a profane person, was committing a sacrilege by coming to disturb those two men pra

nd acting to impress a congregation, and yet he had a way of kneeling, of stretching out his arms and of looking up to the humble gilded cross in front of him, that revealed all the ardour of fervent prayers. Occasionally he turned towards the back of the church to pronounce t

wearing on his shabby infantry coat the white armlet with the red cross. He must have been

nious Latin phrases, which sounded to me like exquisite music. And as an accompaniment in the distance

and miserable, almost a useless thing, compared with those two fine priestly figures who were praying in

ison life, its gross pleasures and silly excesses! I was ashamed of myself when I reflected that death brushed

ps-those words that my dear mother used to teach me on her knee years and years a

passes.... Pray for

n and a more valiant soldier. And, as though to encourage a

this time I thought his eyes rested upon me, and

e by a great noise of people running a

ses!... Mo

until those two priests came out, to speak to them, and talk about other things than

ed, I saw my abbé coming out of a barn, with his sleeves tucked up and his képi on the side of his head. He was carrying a large p

as I went forward, an

. There we enjoyed a little rest for the first time in the campaign. On our front the struggle was going on between the French and German trenches, and the employme

own every evening in a good bed; not to get up before seven o'clock; to find our poor horses sta

me at once. Madame Cheveret, whom we at once called "Maman Cheveret," was an alert little old lady who trotted about all day long in quest of things to do for us. She put us up in the dining-room, and helped our cook to clean the vegetables and to superintend the joints and sweets. For Gosset, the bold Chasseur appoint

section of an artillery park, and a divisional ambulance. We

iantly shining boots, down the steep footpath which led to the little house of our good Monsieur Che

ning at S

f the Most Ho

the church had been kept locked, as the young parish priest had been called up by the mobilisation. I made haste to

hurch. How deliciously restful they were after the loud roar of the cannon and the rattle of the machine-guns! Who would have thought that such deep, and also such solemn, notes could come from so sm

et silhouette against the purple background made by the setting sun. Some dark human forms were moving about and collecting around the low arched doorway. Perhaps these were the good old women of the distri

men wrapped in their large blue caped cloaks. The bells shook out their solemn notes, and seemed to be calling others to come too; and I should have been glad if

hour as soon as they heard the bells begin. And now that I had no fears about the church being empty I wondered how I was going to find a place myself. I stood on the doorstep, un

the kindness of a motorist of the Red Cross had been appealed to for the supply of all the candles which lit up the altar. This was indeed resplendent. The vestry

nce reigned over the whole congregation of soldiers. And yet no discipline was enforced; there was no superior present to impose a show of devotion. Lef

rms in token of welcome, and I at once recognised the Chaplain in his surplice. His face was bea

y. I have thought of everything. You mu

r they had been occupied, at high mass, by the clergy, the choir, and the principal members of the congregation. He proudly showed me into o

f them carried a censer, and another the incense-box. The other two walked in front of them, arms crossed and eyes front. The whole procession kn

ut now I could distinguish the artist who was enchanting us by his skill in drawing sweet sounds from a poor worn instrument. He was an artiller

round of the church the striking features of a noble face were thrown into strong relief: a forehead broad and refined, an aristocratic nose, a fair moustache turned u

ning to the congr

l all join in singi

eadful discords I expected from this crowd of soldiers-mostly reservists

e believed possible. Who will say then that our dear France has lost her Faith? Who can believe it? Every one of these men joined in singing the hymn, and not one of them seemed ignorant of the Lat

rs old, would remember all the words unless they had been b

brandt! The bodies of the men were invisible in the darkness of the nave, and their heads alone emerged from the gloom. The effect was grand enough to fascinate the most sceptical of painters; it soothed and charmed one and w

t served by choristers of thirty-five in uniform; at that ceremony it was inexpressibly touching and attractive, and it was especi

ine him to be a brilliant speaker at the best of times, but on that occasion the worthy man was completely unintelligible. His happiness was choking him. He tried in vain to find the words

ccess of our arms, and the other ten in memory of soldiers who h

et and tell the beads with dreamy eyes; and when the Chaplain came to the sentence "Holy Mary, Mother of God, ..." hundreds of voices burst forth, deep and manly voices, full of fer

ilence was impressive; not a word, not a cough, and not a chair moved. I had never seen such devotion in any church. Some spiritual power was brooding over the assemblage and bowing all those

dull roll of the cannon. Good Monsieur Cheveret had just brought up from his cellar a venerable bottle of his best Burgundy, and, at the

piece of beef à la mode and at the same time telling the a

jokes in the yard as they ate their rations and emp

murmuring Vesle, songs and laughter f

starlit sky, seemed bathed in an atmospher