AN ONLOOKER IN FRANCE

[Illustration: I. _Field-Marshal Earl Haig of Bemersyde, O.M., K.T., etc._]

AN ONLOOKER IN FRANCE

1917-1919

BY SIR WILLIAM ORPEN, K.B.E., R.A.

LONDON WILLIAMS AND NORGATE 1921

Pictures and Text, Copyright 1921 by Sir William Orpen, K.B.E., R.A.

Printed in Great Britain by Richard Clay & Sons, Limited, Paris Garden, Stamford St., S.E. 1, and Bungay, Suffolk.

PREFACE (p. v)

This book must not be considered as a serious work on life in France behind the lines, it is merely an attempt to record some certain little incidents that occurred in my own life there.

The only thought I wish to convey is my sincere thanks for the wonderful opportunity that was given me to look on and see the fighting man, and to learn to revere and worship him--that is the only serious thing. I wish to express my worship and reverence to that gallant company, and to convey to those who are left my most sincere thanks for all their marvellous kindness to me, a mere looker on.

CONTENTS

Chap. Page

PREFACE v

I. TO FRANCE (APRIL 1917) 11

II. THE SOMME (APRIL 1917) 16

III. AT BRIGADE HEADQUARTERS AND ST. POL (MAY-JUNE 1917) 25

IV. THE YPRES SALIENT (JUNE-JULY 1917) 31

V. THE SOMME IN SUMMER-TIME (AUGUST 1917) 36

VI. THE SOMME (SEPTEMBER 1917) 42

VII. WITH THE FLYING CORPS (OCTOBER 1917) 50

VIII. CASSEL AND IN HOSPITAL (NOVEMBER 1917) 55

IX. WINTER (1917-1918) 62

X. LONDON (MARCH-JUNE 1918) 67

XI. BACK IN FRANCE (JULY-SEPTEMBER 1918) 75

XII. AMIENS (OCTOBER 1918) 84

XIII. NEARING THE END (OCTOBER 1918) 90

XIV. THE PEACE CONFERENCE 98

XV. PARIS DURING THE PEACE CONFERENCE 111

XVI. THE SIGNING OF THE PEACE 116

Table of contents (by pages)

• 1: An Onlooker in France 1917-1919 by Orpen
• 2: Warwickshires entering Peronne
• 3: The Official Entry of the Kaiser
• 4: Major General Sir Henry Burstall
• 5: Filled with humanity in khaki weighed down with their packs
• 6: The next day after lunch we drove to Rollencourt
• 7: That Hesdin was too far away from anything near the front
• 8: With POZIERES in large Roman letters
• 9: After I had been in Amiens for about a fortnight
• 10: POL MAY JUNE 1917 About this time Freddie Fane Major Fane
• 11: And Sassoon said I was to paint the Chief
• 12: And Maurice shyly said May I take Orpen round
• 13: Cassel is a picturesque little spot
• 14: German 'Planes visiting Cassel
• 15: After a week I went back to Cassel
• 16: The black cat of Thiepval would find me
• 17: A burial party worked round Thiepval
• 18: That night I happened to meet Joffroy
• 19: And he and my batman used to carry this upstairs
• 20: The old sixteenth century prison of Amiens
• 21: The great mine at La Boisselle was a wonderful sight
• 22: Poor Lipsett was killed by a shell later
• 23: The other airman chosen was Captain Hoidge
• 24: Hunchie kept the buffet at the station
• 25: If the old Gare could only speak
• 26: And Howlett my chauffeur played the mouth organ
• 27: I've got a scabie on my neck that is worrying me
• 28: And painted the General and Hotblack
• 29: Munnings was painting Prince Antoine at this period
• 30: When I got on the boat I met General Seely
• 31: And he told me McCudden was in London
• 32: I have a lot of my stuff moved to Boulogne from Amiens
• 33: It would turn a mill at Bumpherie
• 34: Connecting the names of Foch and Clemenceau
• 35: The calmness of that old chateau at Bon Bon
• 36: But Bertangles in August was lovely
• 37: Had remained in Amiens all through the bombardment
• 38: He taxied off down the aerodrome
• 39: 089 OCTOBER 1918 Mud Everywhere Nothing but mud
• 40: These fields were full of dead Boche and horses
• 41: The batman leant over my shoulder
• 42: Locre must have been a very pretty little place
• 43: Stevens had just come back from Brussels
• 44: My life consisted now of painting portraits at the Astoria
• 45: They were just friends of the frocks
• 46: Botha was big a giant among men
• 47: So I went back to the Astoria about 1
• 48: I painted the Marquis Siongi in his flat in the Rue Bassano
• 49: How the people of Manchester must have missed her
• 50: About this time I painted Lord Riddell
• 51: Who told me she was an English duchess
• 52: Glyn would teach us many things about life
• 53: And when Haig passed at the head of his men
• 54: Major General Sir Henry Burstall
• 55: Admiral of the Fleet Sir David Beatty
• 56: Brigadier General Dame Vaughan