In the Field (1914-1915)

In the Field (1914-1915)

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Dupont, Translated by H. W. Hill
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Title: In the Field (1914-1915) The Impressions of an Officer of Light
Cavalry
Author: Marcel Dupont

Release Date: April 14, 2006 [eBook #18177]
Language: English
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IN THE FIELD (1914-1915)
The Impressions of an Officer of Light Cavalry
by
MARCEL DUPONT
Translated by H. W. Hill

London William Heinemann London: William Heinemann, 1916.

TO
GENERAL CHERFILS
A TRIBUTE OF
SINCERE GRATITUDE

PREFACE
In the following pages the reader will find no tactical studies, no
military criticism, no vivid picture of a great battle. I have merely tried

to make a written record of some of the hours I have lived through
during the course of this war. A modest Lieutenant of Chasseurs, I
cannot claim to form any opinion as to the operations which have been
carried out for the last nine months on an immense front. I only speak
of things I have seen with my own eyes, in the little corner of the
battlefield occupied by my regiment.
It occurred to me that if I should come out of the deathly struggle safe
and sound, it would be a pleasure to me some day to read over these
notes of battle or bivouac. I thought, further, that my people would be
interested in them. So I tried to set down my impressions in my
intervals of leisure. Days of misery, days of joy, days of battle.... What
volumes one might write, if one were to follow our squadrons day by
day in their march!
I preferred to choose among many memories. I did not wish to
compose memoirs, but only to evoke the most tragic or the most
touching moments of my campaign. And, indeed, I have had only too
many from which to choose.
I shall rejoice if I have been able to revive some phases of the tragedy
in which we were the actors for my brothers-in-arms.
Further, I gladly offer these "impressions" to any non-combatants they
may interest. They must not look for the talents of a great story-teller,
nor the thrilling interest of a novel. All they will find is the simple tale
of an eyewitness, the unschooled effort of a soldier more apt with the
sword than with the pen.
M.D.

_The Editor of SOLDIERS' TALES will be glad to read diaries or
notebooks of those returning, in any capacity whatsoever, from the
Front with a view to inclusion in the Series. Contributions must be
strictly truthful and should be written with no effort at fine writing.
They are intended to tell truthfully the experiences and the feelings of

the writers. They should be sent by registered post to the Editor,
"Soldiers' Tales," 21, Bedford Street, W.C., and they may be
accompanied by sketches and photographs. All contributions printed
will be well paid for. Contributions should be of 30,000 words and
upwards in length._

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE
I. HOW I WENT TO THE FRONT 1
II. THE FIRST CHARGE 57
III. RECONNOITRING COURGIVAULT 76
IV. THE JAULGONNE AFFAIR 102
V. LOW MASS AND BENEDICTION 152
VI. A TRAGIC NIGHT IN THE TRENCHES 178
VII. SISTER GABRIELLE 226
VIII. CHRISTMAS NIGHT 258

I. HOW I WENT TO THE FRONT
The train was creeping along slowly in the soft night air. Seated on a
truss of hay in the horse-box with my own two horses and that of my
orderly, Wattrelot, I looked out through the gap left by the unclosed
sliding door. How slowly we were going! How often we stopped! I got
impatient as I thought of the hours we were losing whilst the other
fellows were fighting and reaping all the glory. Station after station we

passed; bridges, level crossings, tunnels. Everywhere I saw soldiers
guarding the line and the bayonets of the old chassepôts glinting in the
starlight. Now and again the train would suddenly pull up for some