The Cross at the Front

Fragments from the Trenches

BY

THOMAS TIPLADY
Chaplain to the. Forces

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

Copyright, 1917
by

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.

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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.

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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