Chapter I: Front Matter

"CONTEMPTIBLE"

SOLDIERS' TALES OF THE GREAT WAR

Each volume cr. 8vo, cloth.

I. WITH MY REGIMENT. By "Platoon Commander."

II. DIXMUDE. The Epic of the French Marines. Oct.-Nov. 1914. By Charles le Goffic. _Illustrated_

III. IN THE FIELD (1914-15). The Impressions of an Officer of Light Cavalry.

IV. UNCENSORED LETTERS FROM THE DARDANELLES. Notes of a French Army Doctor. _Illustrated_

V. PRISONER OF WAR. By André Warnod. _Illustrated_

VI. "CONTEMPTIBLE." By "Casualty."

VII. ON THE ANZAC TRAIL. By "Anzac."

Philadelphia J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY London: WILLIAM HEINEMANN

"CONTEMPTIBLE"

BY

"CASUALTY"

Philadelphia: J.B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY

London: WILLIAM HEINEMANN

MCMXVI

_Printed in Great Britain._

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE

I LEAVING ENGLAND 1

II CALM BEFORE THE STORM 10

III THE ADVANCE TO MONS 14

IV MONS 21

V THE BEGINNING OF THE RETREAT 27

VI DARKNESS 34

VII VENÉROLLES 39

VIII ST. QUENTIN AND LA FÈRE 44

IX SIR JOHN FRENCH 51

X A PAUSE, AND MORE MARCHING 55

XI A REAR-GUARD ACTION 62

XII VILLIERS-COTTERETS 66

XIII HEAT AND DUST 74

XIV THE OCCUPATION OF VILLIERS 78

XV THE LAST LAP 86

XVI THE TURN OF THE TIDE 95

XVII THE ADVANCE BEGINS 98

XVIII THE CROSSING OF THE MARNE 104

XIX AN ADVANCED-GUARD ACTION 109

XX DEFENCE 117

XXI THE DEFENCE OF THE BRANDY 122

XXII STRATEGY AS YOU LIKE IT 126

XXIII THE LAST ADVANCE 133

XXIV SATURDAY NIGHT 141

XXV THE CROSSING OF THE AISNE 151

XXVI THE CELLARS OF POUSSEY 161

XXVII THE FIRST TRENCHES 168

XXVIII IN RESERVE AT SOUVIR 177

XXIX TO STRAIGHTEN THE LINE 186

XXX THE JAWS OF DEATH 193

XXXI THE FIELD HOSPITAL 204

XXXII OPERATION 213

XXXIII ST. NAZAIRE 219

XXXIV SOMEWHERE IN MAYFAIR 221