![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/tabletop.jpg) |
|
The Flaming Sword
in Serbia and Elsewhere
by
Mrs St Clair Stobart
|
|
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/tablebottom.jpg) |
This is
the 1916 First Edition, in worn condition
This is one of the most important
memoirs to emerge from the Balkans' Campaign of the First World
War. This account is of great historical interest for its
first-hand description of the fighting in the Serbian Campaign
and of the Retreat through Montenegro and Albania.
|
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/tabletop.jpg) |
|
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/108242a_0004.jpg)
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/108242a_0001.jpg)
Front cover and spine
Further images of this book are
shown below
|
|
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/tablebottom.jpg) |
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/pub.jpg) |
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/tabletop.jpg) |
|
Publisher and place of
publication |
|
Dimensions in inches (to
the nearest quarter-inch) |
London: Hodder and Stoughton |
|
4¾ inches wide x 7½ inches tall |
|
|
|
Edition |
|
Length |
1916 First Edition |
|
[viii] + 325 pages plus list of staff at the Stobart Hospital, Kragujevatz |
|
|
|
Condition of covers |
|
Internal condition |
Original pictorial cloth in worn condition.
The covers are very heavily rubbed with, on the front cover, significant
loss of original colour; there is also a frayed patch in the centre. The
spine has darkened with age and is soiled and stained. The head of the spine
is snagged with a half-inch tear in the cloth in the centre. The spine ends
and corners are bumped and frayed with further splits in the cloth,
including a number of small tears at the tail of the spine and the card
exposed on the corners. There are indentations along the edges of the
boards, including a prominent notch on the front bottom edge. The images
below give a good indication of the current worn state of the covers. |
|
The inner hinges are cracked with both the
front and rear blank end-papers missing. The volume opens directly to the
Half-Title page where a previous owner has (it appears) attempted to
classify the account into the years 1914 and 1915 with marks on the
outside edge of text block and, in addition, has also marked the on the
fore-edge the location of all the illustrations. There should be a folding
map facing page 1 but this is missing and, attached to the missing map, was
page ix of the preliminaries, containing the "Guide to Readers" which lists
the component arts of the volume (as noted in the "Contents" section below).
There is scattered foxing and the paper has tanned noticeably with age.
There is some separation between the inner gatherings. The edge of the text
block is grubby, dust-stained and foxed, also with the small inked marks
mentioned above . The previous owner has also added some inked annotations. |
|
|
|
Dust-jacket present? |
|
Other
comments |
No |
|
This is a worn and defective example of the
scarce First Edition, with a large number of issues as noted,
including significant discoloured covers, cracked hinges and missing
end-papers, and a missing map. All the illustrations, however, are present. |
|
|
|
Illustrations,
maps, etc |
|
Contents |
There are a number of photographic
illustrations, all of which are shown below, but there is no
separate List of Illustrations. There is a Frontispiece,
followed by Plates facing pages 10; 18; 42; 50; 72; 74 (sketch
map); 82; 106; 130; 154; 178; 202; 226; 250; 274; and 298. There
should also be a folding map facing page 1: unfortunately, this
is missing. |
|
The book is in five parts:
PART I. deals with preliminaries and military hospital work in
Bulgaria, Belgium, France, and Serbia.
PART II. deals with roadside tent dispensary work in Serbia.
PART III. is a diary of the Serbian retreat.
PART IV. discusses the war work of women, the Serbian character
and the evils of war.
PART V. comprises letters and lists of personnel. |
|
|
|
Post & shipping
information |
|
Payment options |
The packed weight is approximately
700 grams.
Full shipping/postage information is
provided in a panel
at the end of this listing.
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/postinfo.jpg) |
|
Payment options
:
-
UK buyers: cheque (in
GBP), debit card, credit card (Visa, MasterCard but
not Amex), PayPal
-
International buyers: credit card
(Visa, MasterCard but not Amex), PayPal
Full payment information is provided in a
panel at the end of this listing. |
|
|
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/tablebottom.jpg) |
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/rowofbooks2.jpg) ![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/rowofbooks2.jpg) |
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/notes.jpg) |
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/tabletop.jpg) |
|
The Flaming Sword in Serbia
and Elsewhere
Preface
I HAVE written this book in the first person, because it would be an
affectation to write in the neuter person about these things which I
have felt and seen.
But if the book has interest, this should lie, not only in the
personal experiences, but in the effect which these have had upon
the beliefs of a modern woman who is probably representative of
other women of her century.
I believe that humankind is at the parting of the ways. One way
leads to evolution along spiritual lines the other to devolution
along lines of materialism ; and the sign-post to devolution is
militarism. For militarism is a movement of retrogression, which
will bring civilisation to a standstill in a cul-de-sac.
And I believe that militarism can only be destroyed with the help of
Woman. In countries where Woman has least sway, militarism is most
dominant. Militarism is maleness run riot.
Man's dislike of militarism is prompted by sentiment, or by a sense
of expediency. It is not due to instinct ; therefore it is not
forceful. The charge of human life has not been given by Nature to
Man. Therefore, to Man, the preservation of life is of less
importance than many other things. Nature herself sets an example of
recklessness with males ; she creates, in the insect world, millions
of useless male lives for one that is to serve the purpose of
maleness. It is said that the proportion of male may-flies to female
is six thousand to one. Nature behaves similarly though with more
moderation with male human babies. More males than females are born,
but fewer males survive. Is war perhaps another extravagant device
of Nature ; or is society, which encourages war, blindly copying
Nature for the same end ?
On the other hand, Woman's dislike of militarism is an instinct.
Life for Woman is not a seed which can be sown broadcast, to take
root, or to perish, according to chance. For Woman, life is an
individual charge ; therefore, for Woman, the preservation of life
is of more importance than many other things.
By God and by Man, the care of life is given to Woman, before and
after birth. With all her being, Woman primitive Woman has defended
that life as an individual concrete life ; and with all her being,
Woman modern Woman must now, in an enlarged sphere, defend the
abstract life of humankind.
Therefore, it is good that Woman shall put aside her qualms, and go
forth and see for herself the dangers that threaten life.
Therefore it is good that Woman shall record, as Woman, and not as
neuter, the things which she has felt, and seen, during an
experience of militarism at first hand.
|
|
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/tablebottom.jpg) |
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/tabletop.jpg) |
|
The Flaming Sword in Serbia
and Elsewhere
Excerpts:
Chapter I
To go through the horrors of war, and
keep one's reason that is hell. Those who have seen the fiery Moloch,
licking up his human sacrifices, will harbour no illusions ; they
will know that the devouring deity of War is an idol, and no true
God. The vision is salutary ; it purges the mind from false values,
and gives courage for the exorcism of abominations still practised
by a world which has no knowledge of the God of Life. The
abominations which are now practised in Europe, by twentieth century
man, are no less abominable than those practised of old in the
Valley of Hinnom. The heathen passed their sons and daughters
through the fire, to propitiate their deity ; the Lord God condemned
the practice. We Christians pass our sons and daughters through the
fire of bloody wars, to propitiate our deities of patriotism and
nationalism. Would the Lord God not also condemn our practice ? But
we, alas ! have no Josiah to act for the Lord God (2 Kings xxiii.).
The heathen wept at the destruction of Baal, but the worship of the
pure God prevailed. No one believes that his god is false, till it
has been destroyed. Therefore, we must destroy militarism, in and
through this war, and future generations will justify the deed.
I am neither a doctor nor a nurse, but I have occupied myself within
the sphere of war for the following reasons.
After four years spent on the free veldt of the South African
Transvaal, I returned to London (in 1907) with my mind cleared of
many prejudices. The political situation into which I found myself
plunged, was interesting. Both men and women were yawning themselves
awake ; the former after a long sleep, the latter for the first time
in history. The men had been awakened by the premonitory echo of
German cannons, and were, in lounge suits, beginning to look to
their national defences. Women probably did not know what awakened
them, but the same cannons were responsible.
For self-defence is the first law of subconscious nature ; and the
success of Prussian cannons would mean the annihilation of woman as
the custodian of human life.
It was natural that woman's first cry should be for the political
vote : influence without power is a chimera. But it was also natural
that at a moment when national defence was the rallying shibboleth
for men, the political claims of women should be by men disregarded.
Political power without national responsibility would be unwisdom
and injustice.
But was woman incapable of taking a responsible share in national
defence ?
I believed that prejudice alone stood in woman's way. Prejudice,
however, is not eliminated by calling it prejudice. Practical
demonstration that prejudice is prejudice, will alone dissipate the
phantom.
But what form should woman's share in national defence assume ? In
these days of the supremacy of mechanical over physical force,
woman's ability as a fighting factor could have been shown. But
there were three reasons against experimenting in this direction.
Firstly, it would have been difficult to obtain opportunities for
the necessary proof of capacity.
Secondly, woman could not fight better than man, even if she could
fight as well, and, as an argument for the desirability of giving
woman a share in national responsibility, it would be unwise to
present her as a performer of less capacity than man. The expediency
of woman's participation in national defence could best be proved by
showing that there was a sphere of work in which she could be at
least as capable as man.
Thirdly, and of primary importance, if the entrance of women into
the political arena, is an evolutionary movement forwards and not
backwards woman must not encumber herself with legacies of male
traditions likely to compromise her freedom of evolvement along the
line of life.
If the Woman's Movement has, as I believe, value in the scheme of
creation, it must tend to the furtherance of life, and not of death.
Now, militarism means supremacy of the principle that to produce
death is, on occasions many occasions more useful than to preserve
life. Militarism has, in one country at least, reached a climax, and
I believe it is because we women feel in our souls that life has a
meaning, and a value, which are in danger of being lost in
militarism, that we are at this moment instinctively asking for a
share in controlling those human lives for which Nature has made us
specially responsible. " Intellect," says Bergson, " is
characterised by a natural inability to comprehend life." Woman may
be less heavily handicapped in an attempt to understand it ?
It may well have been the echo of German cannons which aroused woman
to self-consciousness.
Demonstration, therefore, of the capacity of woman to take a useful
share in national defence must be given in a sphere of work in which
preservation, and not destruction of life, is the objective. Such
work was the care of the sick and wounded.
In a former book, War and Women, an account has been given of the
founding of the " Women's Convoy Corps," as the practical result of
these ideas. The work which was accomplished by members of this
Corps, in Bulgaria, during the first Balkan War, 1912-13, afforded
the first demonstration of the principle that women could
efficiently work in hospitals of war, not only as nurses that had
already been proved in the Crimean War but as doctors, orderlies,
administrators, in every department of responsibility, and thus set
men free for the fighting line.
I had hoped that, as far as I was concerned, it would never be
necessary again to undertake a form of work which is to me
distasteful. But when the German War broke out in August, 1914, I
found to my disappointment, that the demonstration of 1912-13 needed
corroboration. For I had one day the privilege of a conversation
with an important official of the British Red Cross Society, and, to
my surprise, he repeated the stale old story that women surgeons
were not strong enough to operate in hospitals of war, and that
women could not endure the hardships and privations incidental to
campaigns.
I reminded him of the women at Kirk Kilisse. " Ah ! " he replied, "
that was exceptional." I saw at once that he, and those of whom he
was representative, must be shown that it was not exceptional. But
where there is no will to be convinced, the only convincing argument
is the deed. Action is a universal language which all can
understand.
I must, therefore, once more enter the arena ; for my previous
experience of war had corroborated my belief that the co-operation
of woman in warfare, is essential for the future abolition of war ;
essential, that is, for the retrieval of civilisation. For these
reasons I must not shirk.
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/cartouche2.gif)
Chapter II
I HAD gone to Bulgaria with open mind,
prepared to judge for myself whether it was true that war calls
forth valuable human qualities which would otherwise lie dormant,
and whether it was true that the purifying influence of war is so
great, that it compensates the human race for the disadvantages of
war. My mind had been open for impressions of so-called glories of
war.
But the glories which came under my notice in Bulgaria, were
butchered human beings, devastated villages, a general callousness
about the value of human life, that was for me a revelation. This
time I should go out with no illusions about these martial glories.
But how should I go ? To my satisfaction I found that the Bulgarian
" first step " had led to an easy staircase, and when I offered the
services of a Woman's Unit to the Belgian Red Cross, I was at once
invited to establish a hospital in Brussels.
The St. John Ambulance Association, at the instigation of Lady
Perrott, and the Women's Imperial Service League (which, with Lady
Muir Mackenzie as Vice-Chairman, had been organised with the view of
helping to equip women's hospital units), together with many other
generous friends, provided money and equipment, and a Woman's Unit
was assembled.
I went to Brussels in advance of the unit, to make arrangements, and
was given, as hospital premises, the fine buildings of the
University.
The day after arrival, I had begun the improvisation of lecture and
class-rooms into wards, when, that same day, the work was
interrupted by the entry of the Germans, who took possession of the
Belgian Capital. During three days and nights the triumphant army,
faultlessly equipped, paraded through the streets. For some hours I
watched it from the second floor window of a restaurant in the
Boulevard des Jardins Botaniques, together with my husband, who was
to act as Hon. Treasurer, and the Vicar of the Hampstead Garden
Suburb, who was to act as Chaplain to our unit. And my mind at once
filled with presage of the tough job which the Allies had
undertaken.
The picture upon which we looked was indeed remarkable. Belgium had
been " safeguarded " from aggression, by treaties with the most
civilised nations of the world. But here now were the legitimate
inhabitants of the capital of Belgium standing in their thousands,
gazing helplessly, in dumb bewilderment, whilst the army of one of
these " most civilised " Governments streamed triumphantly, as
conquerors, through their streets. And in all those streets, the
only sounds were the clamping feet of the marching infantry, the
clattering hoofs of the horses of the proud Uhlans and Hussars, and
the rumbling of the wagons carrying murderous guns.
The people stood silent, with frozen hearts, beholding, as fossils
might, the scenes in which they could no longer move.
For them, earth, air, sky, the whole world outside that never-ending
procession, seemed expunged. No one noticed whether rain fell, or
the sun shone, whilst that piteous pageant of triumphant enmity,
passed, in ceaseless cinema, before their eyes.
All idea of establishing a hospital for the Allies had to be
abandoned. The Croix Rouge was taken over by the Germans, and
hospitals would be commandeered for German soldiers. My one desire
was to get in touch with my unit ; for they might, I thought, in
response to the cable sent by the Belgian Red Cross, on the night of
our arrival, be already on their way to join me, and might be in
difficulties, surrounded by the Germans. Whatever personal risk
might be incurred, I must leave Brussels.
The Consuls advised me to remain: they said I should not be able to
obtain a passport from the German General. When I remonstrated, they
shrugged their shoulders and said, " Well, go and ask him yourself !
" I went, and obtained an officially stamped passport for myself and
my two companions, who gallantly, and against my wishes, insisted on
accompanying me, and sharing the risks of passing through the
enemy's lines.
But, notwithstanding our stamped passport, we were, at Hasselt,
arrested as spies, and at Tongres we were condemned to be shot
within twenty-four hours. The story of our escape and eventual
imprisonment, at Aachen, has been told elsewhere, but one remark of
the German Devil -Major Commandant at Tongres, is so illuminative of
the spirit of militarism that it bears repetition.
The Major said, " You are spies " ; he fetched a big book from a
shelf, opened it, and pointing on a certain page, he continued, "
and the fate of spies is to be shot within twenty-four hours. Now
you know your fate." I answered cheerily, as though it were quite a
common occurrence to hear little fates like that, " but, mein Herr
Major, I am sure you would not wish to do such an injustice. Won't
you at least look at our papers, and see that what we have told you
is true ; we were engaged in hospital work when," etc. He then
replied, and his voice rasped and barked like that of a mad dog, "
You are English, and, whether you are right or wrong, this is a war
of annihilation." . . .
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/cartouche2.gif)
Chapter XVIII
THE sixty soldiers were already at the
station when we arrived, also Colonel Pops Dragitch, and Colonel
Ouentchitch followed, to watch the embarkation of wagons and motors
on the train. We were not to leave till early next morning, so we
went in relays to the camp for supper, leaving the others in charge
of the goods ; and we slept that night in our carriages on the
train.
The hospital was to be officially known as " The First Serbian
-English Field Hospital (Front) Commandant Madame Stobart," and we
were attached to the Schumadia Division (25,000 men). The oxen and
horses were entrained at dawn, but the train did not start till
eight o'clock (Saturday, October 2nd). Colonels Guentchitch and Pops
Dragitch came to say good-bye. We little guessed that we should next
meet at Scutari, near the coast, in Albania, after three months of
episodes more tragic than any which even Serbia has ever before
endured. I was amused at being told that I was the commander of the
train, and that no one would be allowed to board it, or to leave it,
without my permission. I don't remember much amusement after that.
We reached Nish at seven that evening, and during the train's halt
of an hour and twenty minutes, we dined in the station restaurant.
Members of the Second British Farmers' Unit, which had been working
at Belgrade, with Mr. Wynch as Administrator, were at the station on
their way to England.
After Nish the line was monopolised by military trains, in which
were Serbian soldiers, dressed in every variety of old garments,
brown or grey the nearest approach to uniform producible. They
reminded me of the saying of Emerson, " No army of freedom or
independence is ever well dressed."
We arrived at Pirot at 3 a.m. (Sunday, October 3rd). I was
interested and also glad to find that I was not going to be coddled
by the military authorities. The assumption was that I knew all
about everything, and didn't need to be told ; so I assumed it too.
As soon as the train stopped at Pirot, I called the sergeant, and
then immediately I realised that I was face to face with a quaint
little embarrassment. In the hospital at Kragujevatz, and at all the
dispensaries, the soldiers and the people had always called me "
Maika." For the position I then held this word was appropriate
enough ; but now, as Commander of an army column, might not other
men hold our men to ridicule if they were under the orders of "
Maika " ? The sergeant appeared in answer to my summons. He saluted.
" Ja, Maika? "" he answered. There was no time for hesitation ;
there never should be ; act first and find the reason afterwards is
often the best policy, and I quickly determined to remain " Maika."
The word " Maika " is already, to Serbian hearts, rich with
impressions, of the best qualities of the old-fashioned woman ; it
would do no harm to add to this a few impressions of qualities of
authority and power not hithertoassociated with women. It was a
risk, but I risked it, and I never had cause for regret. I then told
the sergeant to disembark the men, oxen, horses, and wagons, while
the chauffeurs saw to the handling of the motors. I hoped that
meantime a message would arrive giving the order for the next move ;
but, as nothing happened, I started off at 5 a.m. in one of the
cars, with Dr. Coxon and the interpreter, to try and find the Staff
Headquarters. Colonel Terzitch having, at Aranjelovatz, said I
should find him at Pirot, I went into the town and asked at various
public offices where Colonel Terzitch could be found, but no one
could, or would, give any information, and we were eventually
driving off on a false scent, and in a wrong direction, when I
stopped an officer, who was driving towards us in his carriage, and
I asked him to direct us. He gave us the information we wanted, and
we ultimately tracked the Staff to their Headquarters, in their
tents in a field about five kilometres from Pirot, at the moment
when Major Popovitch was starting to meet us. Our train had arrived
earlier than was expected, and he said he was glad we had pushed on.
He took us at once to see the Commandant, who was awaiting us, and
he gave us a hearty welcome. He was in the tent which we had given
him, but it was wrongly pitched. So we took it down and put it up in
the right way, whilst the Colonel told his soldiers to watch and see
how it should be done. Then he took us to have slatko (jam) and
coffee in the ognishta ; a circular fence, made of kukurus, enclosed
a wood fire, which was crackling busily in the middle ; in a circle
round the fire was a trench, about three feet deep and two feet
wide, with a bank all round, levelled as a seat. We sat either on
dry hay on the bank, or on stools, our feet comfortably touching
ground in the trench. The usual slatko and glasses of water,
followed by Turkish coffee and cigarettes, were handed round. We
were so delighted with the ognishta that the Colonel said he would
tell his men to build one for us in our camp, and later in the
afternoon this was done.
Meantime we returned to the station, to bring out the convoy. The
Colonel and Major Popovitch met us on the road and helped us to
choose a site for the camp, about half a mile away from, and on a
hill above their Headquarters. It was necessary to protect ourselves
from aeroplanes by sheltering as much as possible near trees, and we
found, on a reaped wheat-field adjoining a vine-field, a gorgeous
site which gave us the protection of a hedge and of some trees, with
a view to the east over a valley which divided us from Pirot, and
the mountains of Bulgaria beyond.
From over these mountains we might at any moment hear the sound of
guns telling of the outbreak of hostilities between Bulgaria and
Serbia. The Allies had played into the hands of Bulgaria, and, by
refusing to let Serbia strike at her own time, had given Bulgaria
the advantage of striking at her time, chosen when support from
Germany and Austria on the Danube front, would make the position of
Serbia hopeless.
The Colonel had hospitably invited us all to lunch with him, but we
couldn't burden him to that extent ; and the camp work had to be
done. Eight of us, therefore the doctors, two nurses, two
chauffeurs, the secretary, and myself took advantage of the
hospitality, and enjoyed an excellent lunch in a cottage which the
officers were using as messroom.
By the evening our first camp was installed, and next day, Monday,
October 4th, Major Popovitch and various officers from Pirot came
up, while the nurses were busy preparing dressings and cleaning the
surgical instruments in the hospital tent, to see the arrangements.
They seemed much pleased. The Pirot officers came up in an English
car made in Birmingham.
We only had as patients a few sick soldiers, but there was plenty to
do otherwise in arranging the men's routine of work and meals. The
soldiers always did what they were told, but they needed constant
prodding. In the morning early, for instance, I went to see if the
horses and oxen were being properly fed, and I found that the hay
and oats sent was insufficient ; there was not enough to go round.
Though the men knew this, they had said and done nothing, but had
tethered the horses on barren ground, and left the oxen foodless in
the same empty field. They were surprised when I told them that they
must take all the animals to a pasture.
But they were quite as careless with their own food. They had eaten
no hot meal since we left Kragujevatz ; but, even now, when they had
the chance, they were contenting themselves with bread and cheese,
because the cook was too lazy to prepare hot food, and I had to
insist on a meal being cooked. I made them light a fire, clean a big
cauldron, and stew sheep and potatoes, with plenty of paprika or red
pepper ; then I told them I should come and taste it later. This I
did, and the stew was excellent.
We were encircled by mountains, and near us, to the east, the
beautiful little village of Suvadol, 1,300 feet above the sea,
nestled snugly in its orchards of plums and apples.
The whole valley between us and Pirot was alive with bivouacs of
armed men, all ready to march on Bulgaria. At any moment we might
hear the rumbling of cannons over the hills, telling us that war had
begun. But, as yet, the mountains were silent, their secrets hidden
in the blue mist, which, in the evening, under the sunset colours,
quickened into rainbows.
On Wednesday, October 6th, we waited all day for news. We noticed
that the grey dots in the valley below were fast disappearing ;
something was evidently happening down there. And that evening our
turn came. At seven o'clock twenty-four of us, including the
Commissaire and Treasurer (Sandford and Merton, the inseparables),
and the Serbian dispenser, were sitting in our picturesque ognishta,
round the wood fire, which held a tripod with a cheery kettle for
after-supper tea. The opening of our ognishta faced the Bulgarian
mountains, but the night was dark, and everything beyond our tiny
firelit circle was invisible. We had nearly finished supper, and
some of us were lighting cigarettes, when a drab-dressed soldier an
orderly from Staff Headquarters appeared in the entrance. He handed
to me a small, white, square envelope, addressed to the Commander of
the Column. I opened it and took out a slip of paper ; I put my
signature upon the envelope as a token of receipt, and gave it to
the messenger, and he disappeared. The interpreter, Vooitch, came
and stood behind me, and we read the slip of paper in silence ; then
he whispered the translation. I shall never forget the looks of
eager expectation on the faces which were illumined by the
firelight. " What does it say ? " " We move from here at five
o'clock to-morrow morning," was the answer. The destination, must,
of course, not be revealed. Immediately, when the precious tea had
been drunk, we all went out and began preparations. As every one was
new to the work, it was better to do all we could before going to
bed. The men were called, and dispensary and kitchen tents and their
contents were packed, and also my tent, to save time in the morning.
From midnight to 3.30 a.m. I rested in the dug-out, round the fire,
looking out over the dark valley to the invisible mountains. What a
silence ! Would it soon be broken by a murderous sound echoing
through the valley ? Were those men, those peasant soldiers in the
plain below, already rushing to be destroyed, shattered into ugly
fragments, by other men other peasant soldiers who would also be
shattered into ugly fragments soon ? Yes, soon, very soon, Hell
would be let loose in the name of Heaven.
I rose at 3.30 to ensure that everyone should be in time at his or
her own job, and punctually at five o'clock all was ready for the
start. With human beings, as with all animals, habit is second
nature ; whatsoever thing is done at the beginning, that same thing,
rather than some other thing, comes most easily at all times. " As
it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be," is the text for
most folks. I took care, therefore, that the start should be
methodical. At the sound of the whistle, the convoy drew up in line
; first, the ox-wagons, loaded with tents and stores and general
equipment, the leading wagon carrying the Red Cross flag ; next, the
horse-drawn wagons, also with stores and provisions ; in these rode
the dispenser, Sandford and Merton, and the interpreter ; then the
motor ambulances, in which travelled the twenty-one members of the
British Staff with their personal kit . . .
|
|
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/tablebottom.jpg) |
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/rowofbooks2.jpg) ![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/rowofbooks2.jpg) |
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/tabletop.jpg) |
|
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/covers.jpg)
Please note: to avoid opening the book out, with the
risk of damaging the spine, some of the pages were slightly raised on the
inner edge when being scanned, which has resulted in some blurring to the
text and a
shadow on the inside edge of the final images. Colour reproduction is shown
as accurately as possible but please be aware that some colours
are difficult to scan and may result in a slight variation from
the colour shown below to the actual colour.
In line with eBay guidelines on picture sizes, some of the illustrations may
be shown enlarged for greater detail and clarity.
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/108242a_0001.jpg)
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/108242a_0003.jpg)
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/phoenixfireline.gif)
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/108242a_0004.jpg)
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/108242a_0005.jpg)
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/108242a_0006.jpg)
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/108242a_0007.jpg)
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/108242a_0008.jpg)
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/108242a_0009.jpg)
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/108242a_0010.jpg)
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/108242a_0011.jpg)
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/108242a_0012.jpg)
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/108242a_0013.jpg)
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/108242a_0014.jpg)
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/108242a_0015.jpg)
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/108242a_0016.jpg)
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/108242a_0017.jpg)
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/108242a_0018.jpg)
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/108242a_0019.jpg)
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/108242a_0020.jpg)
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/108242a_0021.jpg)
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/108242a_0022.jpg)
The inner
hinges are cracked with both the front and rear blank
end-papers missing. The volume opens directly to the
Half-Title page where a previous owner has (it appears)
attempted to classify the account into the years 1914 and
1915 with marks on the outside edge of text block and,
in addition, has also marked the on the fore-edge the
location of all the illustrations.
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/108242a_0023.jpg)
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/108242a_0024.jpg) |
|
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/tablebottom.jpg) |
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/rowofbooks2.jpg) ![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/rowofbooks2.jpg)
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/post.jpg)
|
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/tabletop.jpg) |
|
U.K. buyers:
To estimate the
“packed
weight” each book is first weighed and then
an additional amount of 150 grams is added to allow for the packaging
material (all
books are securely wrapped and posted in a cardboard book-mailer).
The weight of the book and packaging is then rounded up to the
nearest hundred grams to arrive at the postage figure. I make no charge for packaging materials and
do not seek to profit
from postage and packaging. Postage can be combined for multiple purchases. |
Packed weight of this item : approximately 700 grams
Postage and payment options to U.K. addresses: |
-
Details of the various postage options can be obtained by selecting
the “Postage and payments” option at the head of this
listing (above).
-
Payment can be made by: debit card, credit
card (Visa or MasterCard, but not Amex), cheque (payable to
"G Miller", please), or PayPal.
-
Please contact me with name,
address and payment details within seven days of the end of the
listing;
otherwise I reserve the right to cancel the sale and re-list the item.
-
Finally, this should be an
enjoyable experience for both the buyer and seller and I hope
you will find me very easy to deal with. If you have a question
or query about any aspect (postage, payment, delivery options
and so on), please do not hesitate to contact me.
|
|
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/tablebottom.jpg) |
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/tabletop.jpg) |
|
International
buyers:
To estimate the
“packed
weight” each book is first weighed and then
an additional amount of 150 grams is added to allow for the packaging
material (all
books are securely wrapped and posted in a cardboard book-mailer).
The weight of the book and packaging is then rounded up to the
nearest hundred grams to arrive at the shipping figure.
I make no charge for packaging materials and do not
seek to profit
from shipping and handling.
Shipping can
usually be combined for multiple purchases
(to a
maximum
of 5 kilograms in any one parcel with the exception of Canada, where
the limit is 2 kilograms). |
Packed weight of this item : approximately 700 grams
International Shipping options: |
Details of the postage options
to various countries (via Air Mail) can be obtained by selecting
the “Postage and payments” option at the head of this listing
(above) and then selecting your country of residence from the drop-down
list. For destinations not shown or other requirements, please contact me before buying.
Due to the
extreme length of time now taken for deliveries, surface mail is no longer
a viable option and I am unable to offer it even in the case of heavy items.
I am afraid that I cannot make any exceptions to this rule.
Payment options for international buyers: |
-
Payment can be made by: credit card (Visa
or MasterCard, but not Amex) or PayPal. I can also accept a cheque in GBP [British
Pounds Sterling] but only if drawn on a major British bank.
-
Regretfully, due to extremely
high conversion charges, I CANNOT accept foreign currency : all payments
must be made in GBP [British Pounds Sterling]. This can be accomplished easily
using a credit card, which I am able to accept as I have a separate,
well-established business, or PayPal.
-
Please contact me with your name and address and payment details within
seven days of the end of the listing; otherwise I reserve the right to
cancel the sale and re-list the item.
-
Finally, this should be an enjoyable experience for
both the buyer and seller and I hope you will find me very easy to deal
with. If you have a question or query about any aspect (shipping,
payment, delivery options and so on), please do not hesitate to contact
me.
Prospective international
buyers should ensure that they are able to provide credit card details or
pay by PayPal within 7 days from the end of the listing (or inform me that
they will be sending a cheque in GBP drawn on a major British bank). Thank you.
|
|
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/tablebottom.jpg) |
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/tabletop.jpg) |
|
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/components.jpg)
(please note that the
book shown is for illustrative purposes only and forms no part of this
listing)
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/7pillars.jpg)
Book dimensions are given in
inches, to the nearest quarter-inch, in the format width x height.
Please
note that, to differentiate them from soft-covers and paperbacks, modern
hardbacks are still invariably described as being ‘cloth’ when they are, in
fact, predominantly bound in paper-covered boards pressed to resemble cloth. |
|
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/tablebottom.jpg) |
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/tabletop.jpg) |
|
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/eBaylogo.gif)
Fine Books for Fine Minds |
I value your custom (and my
feedback rating) but I am also a bibliophile : I want books to arrive in the
same condition in which they were dispatched. For this reason, all books are
securely wrapped in tissue and a protective covering and are
then posted in a cardboard container. If any book is
significantly not as
described, I will offer a full refund. Unless the
size of the book precludes this, hardback books with a dust-jacket are
usually provided with a clear film protective cover, while
hardback books without a dust-jacket are usually provided with a rigid clear cover.
The Royal Mail, in my experience, offers an excellent service, but things
can occasionally go wrong.
However, I believe it is my responsibility to guarantee delivery.
If any book is lost or damaged in transit, I will offer a full refund.
Thank you for looking.
|
|
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/tablebottom.jpg) |
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/tabletop.jpg) |
|
Please also
view my other listings for
a range of interesting books
and feel free to contact me if you require any additional information
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/oldbooks.jpg)
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/view.jpg)
Design and content © Geoffrey Miller |
|
![](https://www.flamboroughmanor.co.uk/images/tablebottom.jpg) |
|
|
|