residence here in their usual quiet, simple way. The Belgians
told you with pride how their monarch could at any time be seen walking
by himself about the streets of the town or along the country roads like
any other officer in the army. A story was told how a couple of young,
dashing French flying officers met the Queen on the beach one day but,
not recognising her, started a conversation. She, seeing the possibility
of a good joke, invited them to her home, and they gleefully accepted.
Picture their consternation when they were presented to the King!
Altogether we spent an extremely pleasant fortnight in this place, and
it was by way of a study in contrasts that October 20th found us
installed in the Redan on the opposite side of the river from Nieuport.

This town is a sister in misfortune to Ypres, but the destruction was
even more complete because it was almost in the front line, and shells
of all calibres dropped in it well-nigh continuously day and night.
Peace-time bridges, of course, had been obliterated, but soldiers had
built others to connect up the front line defence, which was east of the
river, with the rear. Who will ever forget Putney Bridge? Lancashire men
who knew nothing of its parent in London, had now perforce to take a
lively personal interest in this wobbly structure. There were two others
but they were not so famous as this because they were not so frequently
used. Many things can be camouflaged to deceive aircraft, but I think a
bridge over a river would tax the most ingenious in this art, hence,
although hidden from direct observation from the enemy lines, the Hun
had the exact position of these bridges, and, what was more
disconcerting, he also had the exact range. So he "dusted" them at
irregular intervals with various calibres, and trips across resembled
the noble game of running the gauntlet. This portion of night reliefs
was naturally particularly exciting. The late Lt.-Col. Marshall, V.C.,
when second in command to the 6th L.F's., provided an amusing story for
the division one day when a couple of officers failed to salute him in
the middle of Putney Bridge, he walking calmly across, and
they--obviously hurrying. He pulled them up and strafed them duly, then,
to force his point, he stood on the bridge and caused them to pass him
two or three times in a dignified manner and salute him correctly.
Luckily the Boche did not interfere in this little humorous interlude.

The Redan was a large