Produced by Geetu Melwani, Christine P. Travers, Chuck Greif and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) [Transcriber's note:--The original page references for the list of illustrations was 'facing page' therefore they have been changed in this text to match the page numbers in this file.] 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