Thomas Tiplady. The Cross at the Front 1917.

The Cross at the Front

Fragments from the Trenches

THOMAS TIPLADY
Chaplain to the. Forces

Fleming H.. Revell Company
NEW YORK --CHICAGO --TORONTO
LONDON AND EDINBURGH

FLEMING H. REVELL COMPANY
New York: 158 Fifth Avenue
Chicago: 17 North Wabash Ave.

DEDICATED

with gratitude and admiration to the officers and men of the gallant 56th Division of London Territorials, who, with a courage unsurpassed in history, attacked the strong position of GommËcourt in the Battle of July the First, and for several hours held the third line of German trenches, accomplishing what Mr. Beach Thomas described as 'The Feat of the Battle,' and thereby helping their brave comrades farther south to break through on a wide front to which, some weeks later, the Division was itself transferred, and had the great but dearly bought honour of taking part in the attacks culminating in the capture of Combles.

.

PREFACE

THE letters on life and thought at the Front contained in this volume were all written in tents and billets within range, or sound, of the guns. They were written quickly in odd moments and at the bidding of passing impulses. Under such circumstances literary finish was impossible, but it is hoped that they have captured something of the freshness of feeling which one has while passing through unusual experiences, and which is apt to evaporate with the lapse of time. I have attempted no battle picture nor description of military operations, well knowing that such things are beyond me. I have merely gathered up some of the fragments that remained---fragments which might have been lost if not picked up at once. These I have attempted to sketch for the benefit of those at home. I trust they will reveal something of the spirit in which our soldiers lived and fought, suffered and died.

THOMAS TIPLADY.
B. E. F., FRANCE.

CONTENTS

I
THE LOST CHORD

II
LILIES AND FORGET-ME-NOTS

III
THE KITTEN IN THE CRATER

IV
'ABIDE WITH ME'

V
THE WAYSIDE CALVARY

VI
BEFORE AND AFTER THE BATTLE

VII
'BLIGHTY'

VIII
AN INSPIRER ON THE PARAPET

IX
THE TOUCH OF THE WIND

X
TOMMY'S MIND

XI
TOMMY'S RELIGION

XII
TOMMY'S MORALS

XIII
TOMMY'S IDEA OF THE CHURCHES

XIV
THE CHIVALROUS RELIGION OUR CITIZEN SOLDIERS WILL REQUIRE

XV
THE UNTOUCHED CROSS

XVI
THE BELLS OF MAUREPAS

XVII
THE VIRGIN MOTHER OF MONTAUBAN

XVIII
THE OPEN CHURCH IN MANS LAND

XIX
COURAGE AND THE CURTAIN

XX
THE FALLING STATUE OF ALBERT

XXI
THE MEN OF THE LIMP

XXII
A DARK RIDE

XXIII
'ALL SEATED ON THE GROUND'

XXIV
POPPIES AND BARBED WIRE

XXV
THE ROSE IN THE SKY

I	THE LOST CHORD
II	LILIES AND FORGET-ME-NOTS
III	THE KITTEN IN THE CRATER
IV	'ABIDE WITH ME'
V	THE WAYSIDE CALVARY
VI	BEFORE AND AFTER THE BATTLE
VII	'BLIGHTY'
VIII	AN INSPIRER ON THE PARAPET
IX	THE TOUCH OF THE WIND
X	TOMMY'S MIND
XI	TOMMY'S RELIGION
XII	TOMMY'S MORALS
XIII	TOMMY'S IDEA OF THE CHURCHES
XIV	THE CHIVALROUS RELIGION OUR CITIZEN SOLDIERS WILL REQUIRE
XV	THE UNTOUCHED CROSS
XVI	THE BELLS OF MAUREPAS
XVII	THE VIRGIN MOTHER OF MONTAUBAN
XVIII	THE OPEN CHURCH IN MANS LAND
XIX	COURAGE AND THE CURTAIN
XX	THE FALLING STATUE OF ALBERT
XXI	THE MEN OF THE LIMP
XXII	A DARK RIDE
XXIII	'ALL SEATED ON THE GROUND'
XXIV	POPPIES AND BARBED WIRE
XXV	THE ROSE IN THE SKY