“The _Fifth Gloucester Gazette_ is one of these journals. We are proud of the courage and the gaiety these little papers show. We laugh at their quips and jokes: then suddenly we find that the corners of our mouths are quivering and the tears are gathering in our eyes. We see that the boys are thinking about England below their gaiety. One young poet lifts the veil in this exquisite little rondeau-- “‘If we return, will England be Just England still to you and me-- The place where we must earn our bread? We who have walked among the dead, And watched the smile of agony, And seen the price of liberty, Which we have taken carelessly From other hands. Nay, we shall dread: If we return, Dread lest we hold blood-guiltily The thing that men have died to free. Our English fields shall blossom red In all the blood that has been shed, By men whose guardians are we, If we return.’” That is perhaps the keynote of a book which the author has dedicated to all dead and living comrades who have loved England. J. H. COLLETT, C.M.G., COLONEL Commanding the Fifth Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment in France. CONTENTS PAGE PREFACE BY COLONEL J. H. COLLETT, C.M.G. vii _In Flanders_ xv A SONG OF GLOUCESTERSHIRE 1 BALLADE OF THE RICH HEART 3 SONG OF MINSTERWORTH PERRY 5 A GLOUCESTERSHIRE WISH AT EASTERTIDE 6 SONG OF THE ROAD 7 PIPER’S WOOD 8 BALLADE OF RIVER SAILING 9 SONG OF MINSTERWORTH 11 CRICKET: THE CATCH 13 WONDERS 14 TRIOLET 15 TRIOLET 16 WHAT GOD SAID 17 TO HIS MAID 18 BALLADE OF DAMNABLE THINGS 19 SONG OF HEALTH 21 GRATITUDE 22 THE SOLDIER SPEAKS 23 A PRESENT FROM FLANDERS 24 IF WE RETURN 25 A PEOPLE RENEWED 26 THE AWAKENING 27 THE RETURN 28 LAND OF HEART’S DELIGHT 29 GONNEHEM 30 THE REST FARM 31 BALLADE OF BEELZEBUB, GOD OF FLIES 32 TO THE KAISER 34 ROBERT HERRICK SOLILOQUIZES ON THE C.O. 36 THE THREE PADRES 37