Produced by Brian Coe, David E. Brown, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This book was produced from images made available by the HathiTrust Digital Library.) [Illustration: BERNARD CASTLE STUBBS] _Proem_ _So at the threat ye shall summon--so at the need ye shall send Men, not children or servants, tempered and taught to the end; Cleansed of servile panic, slow lo dread or despise Humble because of knowledge, mighty by sacrifice.... So ye shall bide sure guarded when the restless lightnings wake In the womb of the blotting war cloud, and the pallid nations quake._ RUDYARD KIPLING DIARY KEPT BY RIFLEMAN B. C. STUBBS OF THE SECOND DRAFT SENT TO THE QUEEN VICTORIA RIFLES IN FRANCE [Illustration] CHICAGO PRIVATELY PRINTED 1915 COPYRIGHT, 1916, BY RALPH McCOY “_Dulce et Decorum Est_” MR. B. C. STUBBS Once again the shadow has fallen darkly on all associated with the Union-Castle Line, both in the City of London and at sea. Another young member of the Company’s staff at the Fenchurch Street offices, Mr. Bernard Castle Stubbs, who joined the Queen Victoria’s Rifles (9th Battalion London Regiment) in September last, has laid down his life for his country. Shortly after enlistment, he volunteered for the first draft which went out to make good the casualties in his regiment, and on arriving in France last February was sent direct to the firing line. He was in the famous fight on Hill 60 during the night of April 20-21, under the command of Lieutenant G. H. Woolley, who gained the first Victoria Cross conferred on a Territorial officer for his gallant efforts in that bitterly contested struggle. On June 22 Private Stubbs sustained a shell wound in the head, and he died on the following day at the Receiving Hospital at Bailleul, without having regained consciousness. The lad was educated for eight years at Slough, where he was distinguished both in his classes and in the school sports, and was head boy of the school during his last few terms, as well as captain of the cricket and football teams, the holder of a cup for the school championship at “fives,” and the winner of the swimming medal of the school. He later captained the Old Boys’ football team. On leaving school in 1907 he entered the offices of the Union-Castle line, and his death at the early age of 24 has closed what was a very promising career. --_South Africa_ DIARY KEPT BY RIFLEMAN B. C. STUBBS WEDNESDAY, _February 10, 1915_ Owing to wire calling me back from leave, left Watford by 7:51 train, catching the 9:10 from Victoria to Crowboro’. Left Crowboro’ by 6:03 for Southampton after a fine send-off from rest of Battalion. Arrived Southampton at 11 P. M. and spent a good night on floor of board school in the town. THURSDAY, _February 11, 1915_