An onlooker in France, 1917-1919

The boat was crowded. Khaki, everywhere khaki; lifebelts, rain and storm, everything soaked.

Destroyers, churning through the waves, played strange games all round us.

Some old-time Tommies, taking everything for granted, smoked and laughed and told funny stories.

Others had the look of dumb animals in pain, going to what they knew only too well.

The new hands for France asked many questions, pretended to laugh, pretended not to care, but for the most part were in terror of the unknown.