THE BATTLE  OF FRANCE
shaving in a corner. A fatigue party was on the
point of leaving to take the outposts their rations and
the sentries their hot tea. I got a hearty welcome.
The Brigadier-General who commanded the city
decided to entrust us with a section of the defences.
That afternoon I installed my Zouaves beside the
Welsh Guards and there sprung up immediately
between these crack troops a rivalry in courage and
coolness which it warmed my heart to see after so
many bitter days.
'On the 2ist May the enemy attacked the
barricade on the Bapaume road. The British, with
nothing more than anti-tank rifles, held their
positions. They annihilated the crews of three tanks
and then, hugging the walls, set fire to the vehicles.
The same thing happened in the other suburbs.
Everything went as if on manoeuvres. The
Germans, surprised at this resistance, abandoned
their frontal attack and tried to outflank the obstacle
by bringing up artillery. One of their shells fell in
the gateway of the Palais Saint-Vaast, killed the
magnificent sentry and wounded several other men.
The Guards carried the wounded into the cellars and
a few minutes later another sentry, every bit as
impeccable, guarded the entrance to Headquarters.
The imperturbability the Welsh Guards displayed at
that moment made me think of the stories that used
to be told of the Foreign Legion retreating under
fire, never breaking step, every arm shouldered.
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