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HE VIMY RIDGE BATTLE.
HOT COCOA FOR WOl'-VDKI).
A. phase of the Salvation Army's multi
farious activities willi the British Army
(including the A.I. L". and other overseas
forces), <>n active service includes the pro
vision of comforts for the wounded a.nd
tired lighters. Describing something:
his work in this respect on tile day of i he
{Treat attack on Yiiny Ridgt, a Salvation
Army Adjutant said:-"Tiic attack started
in the early hours of the morning, ami
soon the wounded were beginning {<<
?stream back, and, before long, the /ilea
v.'lio had formed the first wave. Securing
a good supply of water and fu:l. I. got
my staff busy supplying the men who were
coming back with free hot tea, and thoy
did enjoy it. Leaving the staff to carry .HI
and look after the men, f went- up to one
of the advanced drossin g-st at ions and tool: .
over the preparing of hot cocoa ami mak
ing the wounded meu as comfortable as
possible."
"'The. strangest place in which I ever
held a meet ing." also said the Ad jut an I.
"was in a huge cave, sixty feet under
ground, and less than a mile from the
German trenches. Here a largo numb:".- of
my men were billeted, arid to meet -.hem
meant a Irainp through four miles of
muddy trenches. But it was well worth
it a.lf to the way they enjoyed the
service." !
The Adjutant's activities were cent red j
around the Tyros, Homme and Yimy Ridge
battle areas. In the first-named section
be opened a "Ilut" within three miles of
the firing-line, from which he supplied frc
hot. tea to the men coming from the
trenches, as well as providing other re
freshments and facilities for reading, writ
ing, and resting. Transferred to the Soinmo,
he at orico opened a ''canteen" in a dug
out, and continued this until he was able
to secure a marquee.
The Salvation Army marquee at.
Tiny liidge was repeatedly under
fire. On one day lifty-three shells
burst in and around the camp.
more. A large niece of shell went through
?the ..oof of t.l'.tt mar.y.ico while it was
crowded with men, but fortunately no one
was injured. A lad who had been standing
oil the spot where it fell had said, only a,
moment before, ,;I think I'll move from
here!"
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