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THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

AN EPISODE OF TH3 WAR

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The Mother Prioress of Ypres.

The Lady Abbedo ot UalLou. The Lady AbUcii ot iprcs

OULTON AND YPRES.

THE IRISH NUNS
AT YPRES

AN EPISODE OF THE WAR

D. M. C.

O.S.B, (Member of the Community

EDITED BY

R. BARRY O^BRIEN, LL.D

WITH AN INTRODUCTION BY

JOHN REDMOND, M.P.

WITH ILlUS"!"nATiONS

LONDON

SMITH, ELDER & GO.

15 WATERLOO PLAGE
1915

A'-

PREFACE

The following narrative was originally in-
tended, as a record of the events it relates,
for the use of the Community only. But,
shortly after the arrival of the Mother
Prioress in England, the manuscript was
placed in my hands. I soon formed the
opinion that it deserved a larger circulation.
My friend Reginald Smith shared this view,
and so the story has come before the public.
It is in truth a human document of
thrilling interest, and will, I believe, make an
abiding contribution to the history of this
world-wide war. D. M. C, though a novice
in literary work, describes with graphic
force the transactions in which she and her
Sisters played so conspicuous and so courage-
ous a part. The moving pictures, which
pass before our eyes in her pages, are full of

334046

PREFACE

touching realism, and throw curious side-
Hghts on the manifold aspects of the titanic
struggle which comes home to everyone
and everything.

The heroism, the self-devotion, the re-
ligious faith, the Christian zeal and charity
of those Irish nuns at Ypres, in a terrible
crisis in the history of their Order, will, I
venture to say, command universal respect
and admiration, mingled with pity for their
fate, and an earnest desire, among all
generous souls, to help them in retrieving
their fortunes.

A Note by the Prioress, and an Intro-
duction by Mr. Redmond, who, amid his
many onerous occupations, is not unmindful
of the duty which Irishmen owe to the
historic little Community of Irish Nuns at
Ypres, form a foreword to a narrative which
belongs to the history of the times.

The illustration on the cover is a repro-
duction of the remnant (still preserved in the
Convent) of one of the flags captured by the
Irish Brigade at the battle of Ramillies. On
this subject I have added a Note in the text.

PREFACE

There are names in Belgium which revive
memories that Irishmen cannot forget.
Fontenoy and Landen are household words.
Ypres, too, brings back recollections associ-
ated with deeds which mark the devotion of
the Irish people to Faith and Fatherland.

R. BARRY O'BRIEN.

100 Sinclair Road,

Kensington, W.
May 1915.

V3J

NOTE BY PRIORESS

These simple notes, destined at first for
the intimacy of our Abbey, we now publish
through the intervention of Mr. Barry
O'Brien to satisfy the numerous demands of
friends, who, owing to the horrors of the
fighting round Ypres, have shown great
interest in our welfare.

Owing, also, to the numerous articles
about us, appearing daily in the newspapers —
and which, to say the least, are often very
exaggerated — I have charged Dame M.
Columban to give a detailed account of
all that has befallen the Community, since
the coming of the Germans to Ypres till
our safe arrival at Oulton Abbey. I can
therefore certify that all that is in this little
book, taken from the notes which several
of the nuns had kept, is perfectly true,
and only a simple narrative of our own
personal experiences of the War.

NOTE BY PRIORESS

May this account, to which Mr. Redmond
has done us the honour of writing an intro-
duction at the request of Dame Teresa, his
niece, bring us some httle help towards
the rebuilding of our beloved Jand historic
monastery, which, this very year, should
celebrate its 250th anniversary.

M. MAURA, O.S.B.,

Prioress.
April 1915.

INTRODUCTION

I HAVE been asked to write an introduction
to this book, but I feel that I can add
little to its intense dramatic interest.

Ypres has been one of the chief centres of
the terrible struggle which is now proceeding
on the Continent, and it is well known that
this same old Flemish town has figured again
and again in the bloody contests of the past.

It may, perhaps, be well to explain, in a
few words, how the tide of war has once
more rolled to this old-world city.

On Sunday, June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo,
the capital of Bosnia, the Archduke Francis
Ferdinand of Austria-Hungary and his wife,
the Duchess of Hohenberg, were assassin-
ated. Although it was known throughout
Europe that there was in existence in
Serbia an anti-Austrian conspiracy (not of

INTRODUCTION

a very formidable character), and although
suspicion pointed towards the assassinations
being due in some way to the influence of
this conspiracy, no one dreamt for a moment
that the tragedy which had occurred would
have serious European consequences ; and,
as a matter of fact, it was not until July 23
that the Austro-Hungarian Government pre-
sented an ultimatum to Serbia. On that
day, however, a note of a most extraord-
inary and menacing character was delivered
to the Serbian Government by Austria-
Hungary. It contained no less than ten
separate demands, including the suppression
of newspapers and literature ; the dis-
appearance of all nationalist societies ; the
reorganisation of Government schools ;
wholesale dismissal of officers from the
army ; and an extraordinary demand that
Austro-Hungarian officials should have a
share in all judicial proceedings in Serbia;
besides the arrest of certain specified men,
and the prevention of all traffic in arms.

It at once became evident to the whole
world that no nation could possibly agree

xii

INTRODUCTION

to these demands and maintain a semblance
of national independence ; and, when it
was found that the ultimatum required a
reply within forty- eight hours, it became
clear that the whole of Europe was on the
brink of a volcano.

Great Britain, through Sir Edward Grey,
had already urged Serbia to show modera-
tion and conciliation in her attitude towards
Austria-Hungary ; and, when the ultimatum
was submitted to her. Great Britain and
Russia both urged upon her the necessity of
a moderate and conciliatory answer.

As a matter of fact, Serbia agreed to
every one of the demands in the Austro-
Hungarian ultimatum, with only two reser-
vations, and on these she proposed to submit
the questions in dispute to The Hague.
Serbia received no reply from Austria-Hun-
gary ; and, immediately on the expiration of
the forty-eight hours, the Austro-Hungarian
Minister quitted Belgrade. During those
forty-eight hours. Great Britain and Russia
had urged (1) that the time-limit for
the ultimatum should be extended, and

xiii o

INTRODUCTION

that Germany should join in this demand;
but Germany refused. Sir Edward Grey
then proposed (2) that Great Britain, France,
Germany, and Italy should act together,
both in Austria-Hungary and in Russia, in
favour of peace. Italy agreed ; France
agreed ; Russia agreed ; but Germany again
held back. Sir Edward Grey then pro-
posed (3) that the German, Italian, and
French Ambassadors should meet him
in London. Italy and France agreed ;
Russia raised no objection ; but Germany
refused.

On July 29, the German Imperial
Chancellor made to the British Ambassador
in Berlin the extraordinary and historic
proposal that Great Britain should remain
neutral, provided that Germany undertook
not to invade Holland, and to content
herself with seizing the colonies of France,
and further promised that, if Belgium
remained passive and allowed German
troops to violate her neutrality by marching
through Belgium into France, no territory
would be taken from her. The only possible

xiv

INTRODUCTION

answer was returned by Great Britain in
the rejection of what Mr. Asquith called
* an infamous proposal.'

On July 31, the British Government
demanded from the German and French
Governments an undertaking, in accordance
with treaty obligations, to respect Belgium's
neutrality, and demanded from the Belgian
Government an undertaking to uphold it.
France at once gave the necessary under-
taking, as did Belgium. Germany made
no reply whatever, and from that moment
war was inevitable.

On Monday, August 3, the solemn treaty,
guaranteeing the neutrality of Belgium,
signed by Germany as well as by France
and Great Britain, was treated as ' a scrap
of paper,' to be thrown into the waste-paper
basket by Germany ; Belgian territory was
invaded by German troops ; and, on the next
day, Tuesday, August 4, German troops at-
tacked Liege. From August 4 to August 15,
Liege, under its heroic commander. General
Leman, barred the advance of the German
armies, and, in all human probability,

XV « 2

INTRODUCTION

saved Paris and France and the liberties of
Europe.

On August 17, the Belgian Government
withdrew from Brussels to Antwerp. On
August 20, Brussels was occupied by
the Germans. On August 24, Namur was
stormed. On August 25, Louvain was de-
stroyed, and, after weeks of bloody war-
fare, after the retreat from Mons to the
Marne, and the victorious counter-attack
which drove the Germans back across the
Aisne and to their present line of defence,
Antwerp was occupied by the Germans on
the 9th of October. On October 11,
what may be called the battle of Ypres
began in real earnest ; but the town,
defended by the Allies, held heroically out ;
and by November 20, the utter failure of
the attempt of the Germans to break through
towards Calais by the Ypres route was
acknowledged by everyone.

During the interval, Ypres was probably
the centre of the most terrible fighting in
the War. This dehghtful old Flemish town,
with its magnificent cathedral and its unique

xvi

INTRODUCTION

Cloth Hall, probably the finest specimen of
Gothic architecture in Europe, was wantonly
bombarded day and night. The Germans
have failed to capture the old city ; but they
have laid it in ruins.

The following pages show the sufferings
and heroism of the present members of a
little community of Irish nuns, which

' The world forgetting, by the world forgot,'

has existed in Ypres since the days, some
two hundred and fifty years ago, when their
Royal Abbey was first established. It is
true that, during those centuries, Ypres
has more than once been subjected to
bombardment and attack, and, more than
once, Les Dames Irlandaises of the Royal
Benedictine Abbey of Ypres have been
subjected to suffering and danger. But
never before were they driven from their
home and shelter.

Why, it may be asked, is there a little
community of Irish Benedictine nuns at
Ypres ? During the reign of Queen Eliza-
beth, three English ladies — Lady Percy,

xvii

INTRODUCTION

with Lady Montague, Lady Fortescue and
others — wishing to become Religious, and
being unable to do so in their own country,
assembled at Brussels and founded an English
House of the ancient Order of St. Benedict.
Their numbers increasing, they made affilia-
tions at Ghent, Dunkerque, and Pontoise.

In the year 1665, the Vicar-General of
Ghent was made the Bishop of Ypres, and
he founded there a Benedictine Abbey, with
the Lady Marina Beaumont as its first Lady
Abbess. In the year 1682, on the death of
the first Lady Abbess, Lady Flavia Gary
was chosen as the first Irish Lady Abbess
of what was intended to be at that date, and
what has remained down to the present day,
an Irish community. At that time, the
Irish had no other place for Religious in
Flanders. A legal donation and concession
of the house of Ypres was made in favour
of the Irish nation, and was dedicated to
the Immaculate Conception under the title
of ' Gratia Dei.' Irish nuns from other
houses were sent to Ypres to form the first
Irish community. From that day to this,

xviii

INTRODUCTION

there have been only two Lady Abbesses of
Ypres who have not been Irish, and the
community has always been, so far as the
vast majority of its members are concerned,
composed of Irish ladies.

Its history,^ which has recently been
published, contains the names of the various
Lady Abbesses. They are, practically, all
Irish, with the familiar names Butler,
O 'Bryan, Ryan, Mandeville, Dalton, Lynch,
and so on.

In 1687, James II of England desired
the Lady Abbess of the day, Lady Joseph
Butler, to come over from Ypres to Dublin
and to found an Abbey there under the
denomination of ' His Majesty's Chief Royal
Abbey.' In 1688, the Lady Abbess, accom-
panied by some others of the community at
Ypres, arrived in Dublin, and established the
Abbey in Big Ship Street, leaving the House
at Ypres in the charge of other members of
the community. It is recorded that, when
passing through London, she was received

^ The Irish Dames of Ypres. By the Rev. Dom Patrick
Nolan, O.S.B.

xix

INTRODUCTION

by the Queen, at Whitehall, in the habit of
her Order, which had not been seen there
since the Reformation. In Dublin, James II
received her, and granted her a Royal
Patent, giving the community ' house, rent,
postage' free, and an annuity of £100.
This Royal Patent, with the Great Seal of
the Kingdom, was in the custody of the nuns
at Ypres when this War began. It was
dated June 5, 1689.

When William III arrived in Dublin, in
1690, he gave permission to the Lady Abbess,
Lady Butler, to remain. But she and her
nuns refused, saying ' they would not live
under a usurper.' William then gave her a
pass to Flanders, and this particular letter
was also amongst the treasures at Ypres
when the War broke out.

Notwithstanding William's free pass, the
Irish Abbey in Dublin was broken into and
pillaged by the soldiery, and it was with
difficulty that the Sisters and the Lady Abbess
made their way, after long and perilous
j ourneys, home to their House at Ypres. They
brought with them many relics from Dublin,

INTRODUCTION

including some old oak furniture, which was
used in the Abbey at Ypres up to the recent
flight of the community.

And so the Irish Abbey at Ypres has
held its ground, with varying fortunes. In
January, 1793, forty or fifty armed soldiers
broke into the Abbey ; but the Lady Abbess
of the day went to Tournai to seek aid from
the General-in-Chief, who was an Irishman.
He withdrew the troops from the Convent.
The following year, however, Ypres was
besieged by the French ; but, although the
city was damaged, the Convent, almost
miraculously, escaped without injury.

An order for the suppression of Convents
was issued in the very height of the Revo-
lution. The heroic Lady Abbess Lynch
died. She was succeeded by her sister. Dame
Bernard Lynch, and the Community were
ordered to leave. They were, however,
prevented from so doing by a violent storm
which broke over the town, and next day
there was a change of government, and the
Irish Dames and the Irish Abbey were
allowed to remain, and, for several years

xxi

INTRODUCTION

the Irish Abbey was the only Convent of
any Order existing in the Low Countries.^

So it has remained on to the present day,
from the year 1682 down to 1915, when, for
the first time during that long period, this
little Irish community has been driven from
Ypres and its Convent laid in ruins.

Amongst the other relics and antiquities
treasured by the Community at Ypres, at the
opening of this war, was the famous flag, so
often spoken of in song and story, captured
by the Irish Brigade in the service of France
at the battle of Ramillies ; a voluminous
correspondence with James II ; a large
border of lace worked by Mary Stuart ; a
large painted portrait of James II, presented
by him to the Abbey; a church vestment
made of gold horse-trappings of James II ;
another vestment made from the dress
of the Duchess Isabella, representing the
King of Spain in the Netherlands ; and a

^ At the time of the Revolution, the nuns of Brussels and
Dunkerque (to which Pontoise had been united) and Ghent
fled to England, and these three Houses are now represented
by Bergholt Abbey (Brussels), Teignmouth (Dunkerque), and
Oulton Abbey (Ghent).

xxii

INTRODUCTION

number of other most valuable relics of
the past.

All these particulars can be verified by-
reference to the Rev. Dom Patrick Nolan's
valuable history.

This little community is now in exile
in England. Their Abbey and beautiful
church are in ruins. Some of their precious
relics are believed to be in places of safety.
But most of their property has been de-
stroyed. They escaped, it is true, with
their lives. But what is their future to be ?
Surely Irishmen, to whom the subject espe-
cially appeals, and English sympathisers
who appreciate courage and fortitude, will
sincerely desire to help those devoted and
heroic nuns to go back to Ypres — the home
of the Community for over two centuries —
to rebuild their Abbey and reopen their
schools, to continue in their honourable
mission of charity and benevolence, and to
resume that work of education in which
their Order has been so long and so success-
fully engaged. ^^^^ ^ REDMOND.

April 1915.

xxiii

CONTENTS

OHAF.

PAQB

Preface

^ V

Note by Priobbss

Introduction ....

•

The Coming of the Germans

II.

The At-tjes in Ypres .

III.

Incidents of the Struggle

. 24

IV.

In the Cellars .

. 47

The Bombardment

. 70

VI.

Flight ....

. 92

VII.

Visiting the Wounded

. 107

vm.

An Attempt to Revisit Ypres

. 128

IX.

Preparing to Start for England

. 137

A Second Attempt to Revisit Ypre

s 143

XI.

The Return Journey to Poperinghe

157

XII.

On the Way to England .

. 171

XIII.

OULTON ....

•

. 192

XXV

ILLUSTRATIONS

OuLTON AND YpRES .... Froutispiece

The Lady Abbess of Oulton, The Lady Abbess
of Ypres, The Mother Prioress of Ypres.

The Irish Dames of Ypres . . To face p. 48

D. Patrick, D. Columban, D. Bernard, D.
Teresa, D. Walburge, D. Placid, Mother
Prioress, D. Aloysius.

The Mother Prioress, Dame Teresa,
AND the Three Nuns who Re-
visited Ypres .... „ 144

XXVll

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

CHAPTER I

THE COMING OF THE GERMANS

The War, with all its horrors, into which
the Emperor of Germany plunged the
world in August 1914, had been raging
nearly six weeks, when, towards the end
of September, vague rumours of the enemy's
approach reached us at Ypres. Several
villages in the neighbourhood had had visits
from the dreaded Uhlans, and, according
to report, more than one prisoner had
avowed that they were on their way
to Ypres. An aeroplane had even been
sent from Ghent to survey the town, but
had lost its way. In these circumstances,
the burgomaster sent round word that
from henceforward, until further orders,
no strong lights should be seen from the

I 9

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

outside, and no bells should be rung from
six in the evening till the following day.
Consequently, when night came on, the
Monastery remained in darkness, each nun
contenting herself with the minimum of
light ; and a few strokes of a little hand-
bell summoned the community to hours
of regular observance, instead of the well-
known sound of the belfry-bell, which had,
for so many years, fearlessly made known
each succeeding hour. Another result of
the burgomaster's notice was that we were
no longer able to say the office in the choir,
as on one side the windows looked on the
street, and on the other to the garden,
the light being thus clearly visible from
the ramparts. We, therefore, said compline
and matins, first in the work-room, and
afterwards in the chapter-house, placing
a double set of curtains on the windows
to prevent the least little glimmer of light
from being seen from the outside.

An uneasy feeling of uncertainty took
possession of the town. This feeling in-
creased as news reached us, in the first
days of October, that the enemy had been
seen several times in the neighbourhood.

THE COMING OF THE GERMANS

At length, on October 7 — a never-to-be-for-
gotten day for all those then at Ypres — a
German aeroplane passed over the town,
and shortly afterwards, at about 1.30 p.m.,
everyone was startled by the sound of
firing at no great distance. In the Mon-
astery, it was the spiritual-reading hour,
so we were not able to communicate our
fears ; but, instead of receding, the sound
came nearer, till, at 2 o'clock, the shots
from the guns literally made the house
shake. Unable to surmise the cause of
this sudden invasion, we went our way,
trying to reassure ourselves as best we
could. Shortly after vespers the sound of
the little bell called us all together, and
Reverend Mother Prioress announced to
us, to our great dismay, that what we
had feared had now taken place — the
Germans were in the town. Some poor
persons, who came daily to the Abbey to
receive soup, had hastened to bring the
dreadful tidings on hearing the bell ring
for vespers, because an order had been issued
(of which we were totally ignorant) that
no bells might be rung, for fear of exciting
suspicion. The poor, often more unselfish

3 b2

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

and kind-hearted than the rich, showed
themselves truly so on this occasion, being
more anxious for our safety than their
own — one poor woman offering her little
house as a shelter for Lady Abbess. She
had only one penny for all her fortune, but
still she was sure that everything would
be well all the same; for, as she wisely
remarked, the Germans were less likely
to think of pillaging her bare rooms than
our splendid monastery.

The cannonading which we had heard at
1.30 was a gallant defence made by 100
Belgian police, who had been obliged to re-
treat before the 15,000 Germans, who, from
2 till 8 P.M., poured slowly into the affrighted
town, chanting a lugubrious war-song. M.
Colaert, the burgomaster, and the principal
men were obliged to present themselves.
It was arranged that the town would be
spared on the payment of 75,000 francs,
and on condition that no further violence
should be offered. M. Colaert and another
gentleman were kept as hostages.

We looked at one another in consterna-
tion. We might then, at any moment,
expect a visit, and what a visit ! What

THE COMING OF THE GERMANS

if they were to come to ask lodgings for
the night ? We dared not refuse them.
What if they ransacked the house ? . . .
Would they touch our beloved Lady Abbess,
who, owing to a stroke she had had
two years before, remained now partially
paralysed ? . . . We instinctively turned
our steps to the choir. There, Mother
Prioress began the rosary and, with all
the fervour of our souls, an ardent cry
mounted to the throne of the Mother of
Mercy, ' Pray for us now, and at the hour
of our death.' Was that hour about to
strike ? . . . After the rosary, we recom-
mended ourselves to the endless bounty
of the Sacred Heart, the Protector of our
Monastery, ' Coeur Sacre de Jesus, j'ai con-
fiance en Vous.' And putting all our
confidence in the double protection of our
Divine Spouse and His Immaculate Mother,
we awaited the issue of events.

Our old servant-man Edmund — an honest,
a fearless, and a reliable retainer, with cer-
tainly a comical side to his character — soon
came in with news. Prompted by a natural
curiosity, he had gone out late in the after-
noon to see the troops ; for the Germans,

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

as in so many other towns, made an immense
parade on entering Ypres. For six long
hours they defiled in perfect order before
the gazing multitude, who, although terrified,
could not repress their desire to see such
an unwonted spectacle. Following the army
came huge guns, and cars of ammunition
and provisions without end. The troops
proceeded to the post office, where they
demanded money from the safes. The Belgian
officials stated that, owing to the troubled
times, no great sum was kept there, and
produced 200 francs (the rest having been
previously hidden). The railway station had
also to suffer, the telegraph and telephone
wires being all cut ; while four German
soldiers, posted at the corners of the public
square, and relieved at regular intervals,
armed with loaded revolvers, struck terror
into the unfortunate inhabitants of Ypres.
After some time, however, the most
courageous ventured to open conversation
with the invaders — amongst the others
Edmund, who, coming across a soldier,
more affable-looking than the rest, accosted
him. The German, only too glad to
seize the opportunity, replied civilly enough,

THE COMING OF THE GERMANS

and the two were soon in full con-
versation. ' You seem to be in great
numbers here.' — ' Oh ! this is nothing com-
pared to the rest ! Germany is still
full — we have millions waiting to come !
We are sure to win, the French are only
cowards ! ' ' Where are you going to when
you leave Ypres ? ' — ' To Calais ! ' ' And
then ? ' — ' To London ! ' ' Ha-ha-ha !
You won't get there as easy as you think,
they'll never let you in ! ' — ' We can always
get there in our Zeppelins.' . . . With
this the German turned on his heel and
tramped off.

It was now time to think of finding
lodgings for the night. A great number
of horses were put in the waiting-rooms
at the station, destroying all the cushions
and furniture. The soldiers demanded
shelter in whatever house they pleased,
and no one dared refuse them anything. Our
Abbey, thanks to Divine Providence, of whose
favour we were to receive so many evident
proofs during the next two months, was
spared from these unwelcome visitors — not
one approached the house, and we had
nothing to complain of but the want of

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

bread. Our baker, being on the way to
the convent with the loaves, was met by-
some German soldiers, who immediately
laid hands on his cart, and emptied its
contents. We therefore hastily made some
soda-scones for supper, which, though not
of the best, were nevertheless palatable.
However, all did not escape so easily as
we did, and manv were the tales told of
that dreadful night. The most anxious
of all were those who were actually housing
wounded Belgian soldiers ! If they were
discovered, would the brave fellows not be
killed there and then ? And it happened,
in more than one case, that they escaped
by the merest chance. Before the convent
of exiled French nuns. Rue de Lille, whom
we were afterwards to meet at our stay at
Poperinghe, and where at that moment
numbers of Belgians were hidden, a German
stopped a lady, who was luckily a great
friend of the nuns, and asked if there were
any wounded there. ' That is not a hospital,'
she replied, ' but only a school ' ; and with
a tone of assurance she added, ' If you do
not believe me, you can go and see for
yourself.' The soldier answered, ' I believe

THE COMING OF THE GERMANS

you,' and passed on. In another ease,
the Germans entered a house where the
Belgians were, and passed the night in the
room just underneath them ! A jeweller's
shop was broken into, and the property
destroyed or stolen ; and in a private
dwelling, the lady of the house, finding
herself alone with four officers — her husband
having been taken as hostage — she took to
flight, on which the Germans went all
through the place, doing considerable
damage. In other cases, they behaved
pretty civilly. Our washerwoman had
thirty to breakfast, of whom several had
slept in her establishment, leading their
horses into her drawing-room ! On seeing
her little boys, they had exclaimed, ' Here
are some brave little soldiers for us, later
on ! ' And, on the mother venturing a mild
expostulation, they added, ' Yes, you are
all Germans now — Belgo- Germans ' ; while,
before leaving, they wrote on her board —
' We are Germans ; we fear no one ; we
fear only God and our Emperor ! ' What
troubled her the most was that her un-
welcome guests had laid hold of her clean
washing, taking all that they wanted ;

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

amongst other things, our towels had
disappeared. We were, as may well be
imagined, but too pleased to be rid of the
dread Germans at so little cost.

It appears that while the German army
was still in Ypres, some 12,000 British
soldiers, having followed on its track, stopped
at a little distance from the town, sending
word to the burgomaster that, if he wished,
they were ready to attack the enemy.
M. Colaert, however, not desiring to see
the town given up to pillage and destruction,
was opposed to a British advance.

By this time the whole town was on the
qui vive, and no one thought of anything
else but how best to secure any valuables
that they had ; for the stories of what had
happened in other parts of Belgium were
not at all reassuring. Several tried to leave
the town ; but the few trains that were run-
ning were kept exclusively for the troops,
while the Germans sent back all those who
left on foot. To increase the panic, no less
than five aeroplanes passed during the day ;
and the knowledge that the enemy had left
soldiers with two mitrailleuses at the Porte
de Lille, to guard the town, completed the

THE COMING OF THE GERMANS

feeling of insecurity. Moreover — as the
soldiers had literally emptied the town of
all the eatables they could lay their hands
on — sinister rumours of famine were soon
spread abroad. Reverend Mother Prioress
sent out immediately for some sacks of
flour, but none was to be got ; and we
were obliged to content ourselves with
wheatmeal instead. Rice, coffee, and
butter we had, together with some tins
of fish. The potatoes were to come that
very day, and great was our anxiety lest the
cart would be met by the Germans and the
contents seized. However, the farmer put
off coming for some days, and at length
arrived safely with the load, a boy going
in front to see that no soldiers were about.
The milk-woman, whose farm was a little
way outside the town, was unable to come
in, and no meat could be got for love or
money; so we were obliged to make the
best of what we had, and each day
Mother Prioress went to the kitchen herself
to see if she could not possibly make a new
dish from the never varying meal — rice,
Quaker oats, and maizena.

Ultimately the Allies came to our help,

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

and a motor-car, armed with a mitrailleuse,
flew through the streets and opened fire on
the Germans. Taken by surprise, the latter
ran to their guns; but, through some
mishap, the naphtha took fire in one of
them, whereupon the Germans retreated.
Three of their men were wounded, and one
civilian killed. On the Friday, we began
to breathe freely again, when suddenly
news came, even to the Abbey, that one
hundred Germans were parading round the
town. On Sunday, the Allies came once
more to chase them ; but, for the moment,
the Germans had disappeared. Things con-
tinued thus for some days, until, to the delight
of the inhabitants, the British took entire
possession of the town, promising that the
Germans would never enter it again. Just
one week after the coming of the Germans,
the troops of the Allies poured in, until, amid
the enthusiastic cheers of the people, 21,000
soldiers filled the streets. Those who came
by the monastery passed down the Rue St.
Jacques singing lustily :

' Here we are, here we are, here we are again :
Here we are, here we are, here we are again ! '

Then alternately each side repeated ; 'Hallo !

THE COMING OF THE GERMANS

Hallo ! Hallo ! Hallo ! ' The crowd, whose
knowledge of the English language did
not extend far enough to enable them to
grasp the meaning of ' Here we are again '
soon, however, caught up the chorus of
' Hallo ! Hallo ! ' and quickly the street
resounded with cries, which were certainly
discordant, but which, nevertheless, expressed
the enthusiastic joy of the people.

CHAPTER II

THE ALLIES IN YPRES

The contrast between the reception of the
two armies was striking. On the arrival of
the Germans, people kept in their houses,
or looked at the foe with frightened curi-
osity ; now, everyone lined the streets,
eager for a glimpse of the brave soldiers
who had come to defend Ypres. A week
before, the citizens had furnished food to
the enemy, because they dared not refuse
it — and only then what they were obliged
to give. Now, each one vied with the other
in giving. Bread, butter, milk, choco-
late— everything they had — went to the
soldiers, and sounds of rejoicing came from
all sides. Perhaps, the most pleased of all
were the poor wounded Belgians, who had
been so tried the preceding week. All
those who were able to drag themselves
along crowded to the windows and doors,

14.

THE ALLIES IN YPRES

to welcome their new comrades ; and the
latter, unable to make themselves understood
by words, made vigorous signs that they
were about to chop off the Germans' heads.
What excited the most curiosity were the
' petticoats,' as they were styled, of the
Highlanders, and everyone gave their opinion
on this truly extraordinary uniform, which
had not been previously seen in these
parts. The soldiers were quartered in the
different houses and establishments of the
town. Once more the Abbey was left un-
molested, though once again also the want
of bread was felt — not, that it had been this
time stolen, but that, in spite of all their
efforts, the bakers could not supply the
gigantic demand for bread necessary to feed
our newly arrived friends. Seeing that we
were likely to be forgotten in the general
excitement, Edmund was sent out to see
what he could find. After many vain efforts,
he at last succeeded in getting three very
small-sized loaves, with which he returned
in triumph. Scarcely had he got inside the
parlour, when there came a vigorous tug at
the bell. The new-comer proved to be a
man who, having caught sight of the bread,

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

came to beg some for ' his soldiers.'
Edmund was highly indignant, and loudly
expostulated ; but the poor man, with tears
in his eyes, turned to Mother Prioress (who
had just entered), and offered to pay for the
bread, if only she would give him a little.
' I have my own son at the front,' he ex-
claimed, ' and I should be so grateful to
anyone that I knew had shown kindness
to him ; and now I have been all over the
town to get bread for my soldiers, and there
is none to be had ! ' Mother Prioress' kind
heart was touched, and telling the good man
to keep his money, she gave him the loaves
as well, with which he soon vanished out
of the door, Edmund grumbling all the time
because the nuns (and himself) had been
deprived of their supper. Mother Prioress,
laughing, told him the soldiers needed it
more than we. She turned away, thinking
over what she could possibly give the
community for supper. She went — almost
mechanically — to the bread-bin, where, lifting
up the lid, she felt round in the dark. What
was her delight to find two loaves which
still remained, and which had to suffice for
supper — as well as breakfast next morning.

THE ALLIES IN YPRES

We retired to rest, feeling we were, at any
rate, well guarded ; and the firm tread of the
sentries, as they passed under our windows
at regular intervals, inspired us with very
different feelings from those we had ex-
perienced the week before, on hearing the
heavy footsteps of the German watch.

The officials of the British Headquarters
entered the town with the army, and for
several weeks Ypres was their chief station,
from which issued all the commands for
the troops in the surrounding districts.
We were not long, however, in knowing
the consequences of such an honour. The
next day, at about 10.30 a.m., the whirr
of an aeroplane was heard. We were
becoming accustomed to such novelties,
and so did not pay too much attention,
till, to our horror, we heard a volley of
shots from the Grand' Place saluting the
new-comer. We knew from this what
nationality the visitor was. The firing
continued for some time, and then ceased.
What had happened ? Our enclosure pre-
vented us from following the exciting events
of those troubled times, but friends usually
kept us supplied with the most important

^17 o

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

news. It was thus that, soon afterwards,
we heard the fate of the air monster which
had tried to spy into what was happening
within our walls. The first shots had been
unsuccessful ; but at last two struck the
machine, which began rapidly to descend.
The inmates, unhurt, flew for their lives as
soon as they touched ground ; but, seizing
the first motor-car to hand, the soldiers
chased them, and at last took them prisoners.
What was their horror to find in the aero-
plane a plan of the town of Ypres, with
places marked, on which to throw the three
bombs, one of these places being the
Grand' Place, then occupied by thousands
of British soldiers.

Endless were the thanksgivings which
mounted up to heaven for such a preser-
vation, and prayers and supplications for
Divine protection were redoubled. Since
the beginning of the War, everyone, even
the most indifferent, had turned to God,
from Whom alone thev felt that succour
could come ; and those who before never
put their foot in church were now amongst
the most fervent. Pilgrimages and pro-
cessions were organised to turn aside the

THE ALLIES IN YPRES

impending calamity ; and, heedless of human
respect, rich and poor, the fervent and the
indifferent, raised their voices to the Mother
of God, who has never yet been called
upon in vain. Even the procession of
Our Lady of Thuyn — so well known to all
those who yearly flock to Ypres for the
first Sunday in August — with its groups,
its decorations, its music, had been turned
into a penitential procession ; and the
'Kermess' and other festivities, which took
place during the following eight days, were
prohibited. Needless to say, the Monastery
was not behindhand. Every day the com-
munity assembled together at 1 o'clock
for the recitation of the rosary, and, when
possible, prayed aloud during the different
employments of the day. Num.berless were
the aspirations to the Sacred Heart, Our
Lady of Angels, Our Holy Father St.
Benedict, each one's favourite patron, the
Holy Angels, or the Souls in Purgatory.
Each suggested what they thought the
most likely to inspire devotion. Perhaps
the best of all was that which Dame
Josephine — Requiescat in Pace — announced
to us one day at recreation. It ran as

19 0 2

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

follows : ' Dear St. Patrick, as you once
chased the serpents and venomous rep-
tiles out of Ireland, please now chase
the Germans out of Belgium ! ' The Office
of the Dead was not forgotten for those
who had fallen on the battle-field, and we
offered all our privations and sacrifices for
the good success of the Allies, or the repose
of the souls of the poor soldiers already
killed. We also undertook to make badges
of the Sacred Heart for the soldiers, though
at the moment we saw no possible means
of distributing them. At length, to our
great joy, the arrival of the British troops,
among whom were many Irish Catholics,
opened an apostolate for us, which went
on ever increasing. The idea had first come
to us when, weeks before, a number of
Belgian soldiers were announced, of whom
250 were to have been quartered at the
college. Reverend Mother Prioress had then
suggested that we should make badges,
so as at least to help in some little way,
when everyone else seemed to be doing
so much. We set to work with good will —
some cutting the flannel — others embroider-
ing— others writing — ^till at last we had

THE ALLIES IN YPRES

finished. What was our disappointment to
hear that not a single soldier had come to
the college. We then tried, in every way
possible, to find a means of distributing
our handiwork ; but all in vain, till one da}^,
a poor girl, called Helene, who washed
the steps and outer porch leading to the
principal entrance of the convent, came
to beg prayers for her brother who was
at the front. Mother Prioress promised
her we should all pray for her brother,
at the same time giving her a badge of the
Sacred Heart for him, together with a
dozen others for anyone else she might
know to be in the same position. Helene
soon returned for more, and the devotion
spreading through the town, everyone came
flocking to the parlour to get badges for
a father, a brother, a cousin, a nephew at
the front, many even also asking them for
themselves, so that they might be preserved
from all danger. Even the little children
in the streets came, to ask for ' a little
heart ! ' until the poor Sister at the door
was unable to get through her other work,
owing to the constant ringing of the bell.
In despair, she laid her complaints before

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

her Superior, saying that a troop of children
were there again, of whom one had come the
first thing in the morning for a badge.
On receiving it she had gone outside, where,
changing hats with another child, she
promptly returned, pretending to be some
one else. The Sister, who had seen the
whole performance through the guichet,
had smiled at her innocent trick, and given
her another. But now here she was again,
this time with some one else's apron on,
and bringing half a dozen other children
with her. Mother Prioress then saw the
little girl herself, who, nothing abashed,
put out her hand saying, ' Des petits coeurs,
s'il vous plait, ma Soeur ! ' This was too
much for Mother Prioress' tender heart,
and, instead of scolding, she told them
there was nothing ready then; but for
the future, if they came back on Mondays,
they might have as many ' petits coeurs '
as they wished. The little troop marched
quite contentedly out of the door, headed
by the girl — who could not have been
more than seven years old — and diminishing
in size and age down to a little mite
of two, who toddled out, hanging on to

THE ALLIES IN YPRES

his brother's coat. The devout procession
was brought up by a tiny black dog,
which seemed highly delighted with the
whole proceeding. This little digression has
brought us away from our subject, but
was perhaps necessary to show how we were
able to send badges to the soldiers, by means
of this somewhat strange manner of aposto-
late ; for a young girl, hearing of the devotion,
brought them by dozens to St. Peter's parish
(where an Irish regiment was stationed), im-
pressing on each man, as she pinned the
badge to his uniform, that it was made by
' the Irish Dames 1 '

CHAPTER III

INCIDENTS OF THE STRUGGLE

Meanwhile, in the distance, we could hear
the sound of cannonading, which told us of the
approach of the enemy; and when we met
at recreation, the one and only topic of con-
versation was the War. Each day brought
its item of news — such or such a town had
fallen, another was being bombarded, a village
had been razed to the ground, another was
burning, so many prisoners had been taken,
such a number wounded, many alas ! killed.
As often as not, what we heard one day was
contradicted the next, and what was con-
firmed in the morning as a fact, was flatly
denied in the afternoon ; so that one really
did not know what to believe. We could at
least believe our own ears, and those told
us, by the ever-approaching sound of firing,
that the danger was steadily increasing for
the brave little town of Ypres. It was

INCIDENTS OF THE STRUGGLE

therefore decided that, in ease of emergency,
each nun should prepare a parcel of what
was most necessary, lest the worst should
come, and we should be obliged to fly.

Soon, crowds of refugees, from the towns
and villages in the firing line, thronged the
streets. The city was already crowded with
soldiers. Where, then, could the refugees
find lodging and nourishment ? How were
they to be assisted ? All helped as far as
they were able, and dinner and supper were
daily distributed to some thirty or forty at
the Abbey doors. This meant an increase of
work, which already weighed heavily enough
on our reduced numbers ; for we had, since
September 8, lost four subjects — one choir
dame and three lay-sisters — owing to the
law then issued, commanding the expulsion
of all Germans resident in Belgium. This
had been the first shock. Nothing as yet
foretold the future, nor gave us the least
subject for serious alarm, when, on the
afternoon of September 7, an official came
to the parlour to acquaint us with the newly
published law, and to say that our four
German nuns would have to leave within
thirty-six hours. We were literally stunned,

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

Benedictines ! Enclosed nuns ! All over
twenty-five years in the convent ! What
harm could they do ? Surely no one could
suspect them of being spies. Telegrams
flew to Bruges, even to Antwerp, to obtain
grace — all was useless, and at 3.30 p.m.,
September 8, we assisted at the first departure
from the Abbey, which we innocently thought
would be at the worst for about three weeks,
little dreaming what we should still live to
see. These first poor victims were conducted
by our chaplain to his lordship the Bishop
of Bruges, who placed them in a convent
just over the frontier in Holland, where we
continued corresponding with them, until all
communication was cut off by the arrival
of the Germans, as has already been stated.
In the result, we found our labours increased
by the loss of our three lay-sisters; but we
divided the work between us, and even
rather enjoyed the novelty. Poor old Sister
Magdalen (our oldest lay-sister), however,
failed to see any joke in the business; and
when she found herself once again cook, as
she had been when she was young and
active, her lamentations were unceasing. We
tried to assist her, but she found us more in

INCIDENTS OF THE STRUGGLE

the way than anything else. She discovered at
last a consoler in the person of Edmund, who
offered to peel apples, pears, and potatoes ;
and when the two could get together, Sister
Magdalen poured forth the tale of her endless
woes into Edmund's sympathetic ear, whilst
he in return gave her the ' latest news ' ; and
it was a curious spectacle to see the two
together in the little court anxiously examin-
ing a passing aeroplane, to know of what
nationality it was, though which of the
pair was to decide the matter was rather
questionable, Edmund being exceedingly
short-sighted, and Sister Magdalen not too
well versed in such learned matters. To
return to the refugees : Mother Prioress
took some of us to help her in the children's
refectory, and with her own hands prepared
the food for them. For dinner they had a
good soup, with plenty of boiled potatoes,
bread, and beer : for supper, a plateful
of porridge in which we mixed thin slices of
apple, which made a delicious dish, and
then potatoes in their jackets, bread, and
beer. We had to work hard, for it was no
small task to get such a meal ready for
about forty starving persons. We left Sister

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

Magdalen to grumble alone in the kitchen
over the mysterious disappearance of her
best pots and pans ; especially one evening,
when, forgetting to turn the appetising mix-
ture which was preparing for supper, we
not only spoilt the porridge, but burnt a hole
in a beautiful copper saucepan.

The sound of hostilities came ever nearer
and nearer. Dreadful rumours were current
of an important battle about to be fought in
the proximity of Ypres. What made things
worse was the great number of spies that
infested the neighbourhood. Daily they
were arrested, but yet others managed to
replace them. Four soldiers and one civilian
kept a vigilant watch on the town, examining
every one who seemed the least suspicious,
as much as the prisoners themselves.

Roulers, Warneton, Dixmude, and count-
less other towns and villages had succumbed ;
and at last, to our great grief, news reached
us that the Germans were in Bruges, and had
taken possession of the episcopal palace —
and our much-loved Bishop, where was he ?
Alas! we were doomed not to "hear, for all
communication was cut off, and for the
future we only knew what was happening

INCIDENTS OF THE STRUGGLE

in and around Ypres. And was it not
enough ? The windows aheady shook with
the heavy firing. The roar of the guns
in the distance scarcely stopped a moment.
From the garret windows, we could already
see the smoke of the battle on the horizon ;
and to think that, at every moment,
hundreds of souls were appearing before
the judgment-seat of God ! Were they
prepared ? Terrifying problem !

As everywhere else, the German numbers
far exceeded those of the Allies. It conse-
quently came to pass that the latter were
forced to retreat. It was thus that on
Wednesday, October^ 21, we received the
alarming news that the town would probably
be bombarded in the evening. We had
already prepared our parcels in case we
should be obliged to fly and now we were
advised to live in our cellars, which were
pronounced quite safe against any danger
of shells or bombs. But our dear Lady
Abbess, how should we get her down to
the cellar, when it was only with great
difficulty that she could move from one
room to another ? If we were suddenly
forced to leave, what then would she do ?

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

We could only leave the matter in God's
hands. We carried down a carpet, bed, arm-
chair, and other things, to try to make
matters as comfortable as possible for her —
then our own bedding and provisions. The
precious treasures and antiquities had already
been placed in security, and we now has-
tened to collect the remaining books and
statues, which we hoped to save from the
invaders. We had also been advised to
pile up sand and earth against the cellar
windows to deaden the force of the shells
should they come in our direction. But
if this were the case, they would first
encounter the provision of petrole in the
garden — and then we should all be burnt
alive. To prepare for this alarming con-
tingency, Dame Teresa and Dame Bernard,
armed with spades, proceeded to the far
end of the garden, where they dug an
immense hole, at the same time carrying
the earth to block the entrances to the
different cellars. After a whole day's hard
labour, they succeeded in finishing their
excavation and in tilting the huge barrel,
which they could neither roll nor drag — it
being both too full and too heavy — to the

INCIDENTS OF THE STRUGGLE

place prepared. Their labour, however,
proved all m vain ; for Edmund, displeased
at the barrel's disappearance, then highly
amused at the brilliant enterprise, declared
he could not draw the petrole unless put
back in its old position.

The reported fortunate arrival of a large
number of Indian troops (they said 400,000,
though 40,000 would be nearer the mark)
had a reassuring effect : but we still remained
in suspense, for if the Allies came by
thousands, the Germans had a million
men in the neighbourhood. The Allies and
Germans also sustained frightful losses.
The ambulance cars continually brought
in the unfortunate victims from the battle-
field, till at last the town was full to over-
flowing. One Sunday morning, a French
officer and military doctor came to visit
the convent to see if it would not be possible
to place their wounded with us. We
willingly offered our services, and Mother
Prioress showing them the class-rooms, it
was decided that the whole wing facing
the ramparts, including the class-rooms,
children's dormitory and refectory, the
library, noviceship and work-room, should

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

be emptied and placed at their disposal. The
great drawback was the lack of bedding;
for already, before the arrival of the Germans
in the town, we had given all we could
possibly spare for the Belgian wounded, who
had at that time been transported to Ypres.
The two gentlemen took their leave, very
pleased with their visit, the officer — who
seemed to all appearances a fervent Catholic —
promising to send round word in the after-
noon, when all should be decided. Despite
the fact that it was Sunday, we listened
(after having obtained permission) to the
proverb, ' Many hands make light work,'
and soon the rooms in question were emptied
of all that would not serve for the soldiers,
and were ready for their use. What was our
disappointment, in the afternoon, to hear
that the French officer, thanking us profusely
for our offer, had found another place,
which was more suitable, as being nearer
the site of the engagement. We had always
shown our goodwill, and were only too
pleased to help in any little way the brave
soldiers, who daily, nay hourly, watered
with their blood Belgium's unfortunate
soil. This was not the last we heard of

INCIDENTS OF THE STRUGGLE

the^offlcer ; for we soon had a visit from a
French deacon, who was serving as infirm-
arian at the ambulance, begging for bandages
for the wounded soldiers. All our recrea-
tions and free moments were spent in
* rolling ' bandages, for which were sacrificed
sheets and veils, and in fact anything that
could serve for the purpose — to all of
which we of course added dozens of badges
of the Sacred Heart. The deacon was over-
joyed and returned several times 'to beg,'
giving us news of the fighting. One day
he brought a little souvenir, by way of
thanks for our help. It consisted of a prayer-
book found on a German wounded prisoner,
who had died. The prayers were really
beautiful, being taken mostly from passages
of the Psalms, adapted for the time of war ;
while the soiled leaves showed that the
book had been well read.

One afternoon, about this time, the Sister
who acted as portress announced the visit
of an * English Catholic priest,' serving as
army chaplain. Mother Prioress went im-
mediately round to the parlour to receive
the reverend visitor, who stated that he had
been charged by a well-known English lord,

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

should he ever pass by Ypres, to come to
our convent, to see the ' EngUsh flag ' which
one of his ancestors had sent to the Abbey.
Mother Prioress assured him that the only flag
in the convent was the famous one captured
by the Irish Brigade in the service of France
at the battle of Ramillies.^ She added
that she would be happy to give him a
photograph of the flag. He said he would
be enchanted, promising to call the next
day to fetch it. Accordingly, the following
day he returned, accompanied by two
officers. Dame Josephine, together with
Dame Teresa and Dame Patrick, were sent
to entertain them. On entering the
parlour. Dame Josephine immediately knelt
to receive the ' priest's ' blessing, who
looked rather put out at this unwonted
respect. After an interesting conversation
on various topics, she asked how long he
had been attached to the army. He said
he had volunteered as chaplain, being
in reality a monk, having also charge of
a community of nuns. More and more
interested at not only finding a ' priest ' but
a *monk,' Dame Josephine expressed her

1 See Note 'at end of Chapter.
34

INCIDENTS OF THE STRUGGLE

admiration of the sacrifice he must have
made in thus leaving his monastery,
and asked to what Order he belonged.
The reverend gentleman said that he was of
the Order of St. John the Evangelist, and
that he was indeed longing to be able
to put on once more his holy habit.
Then, making a sign to the officers, he
abruptly finished the conversation, stating
that he had an appointment, which he
could by no means miss, and quickly
vanished out of the parlour. Dame Teresa
and Dame Patrick, who had hardly been
able to keep in their laughter, now told
Dame Josephine of her mistake; for they
had truthfully divined that the supposed
' priest ' was a Protestant clergyman. In
fact he had stated on his introduction that
he was ' a priest of the Church of England,'
from which Dame Josephine had inferred
that he was an ' English Catholic priest ' ;
and so her special attention to him. Dame
Teresa and Dame Patrick had rightly inter-
preted the visitor's description of himself
as a Protestant clergyman, and enjoyed
Dame Josephine's mistake.

Outside, the noise grew ever louder.

35 »3

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

The roar of the cannon, the roUing of the
carriages, Paris omnibuses, provision and
ambulance cars, the continual passage of
cavalry and foot soldiers, and the motor-cars
passing with lightning-like speed, made the
quiet, sleepy little town of Ypres as animated
as London's busiest streets. At night even
the Allied regiments poured in, profiting by
the obscurity to hide their movements from
the Germans ; while, contrasting with the
darkness, the fire from the battle-field showed
up clearly against the midnight sky. One
evening, as we made our usual silent visit to
the garrets before going to bed, a signal of
alarm announced that something more than
ordinary had occurred. In the distance thick
clouds of smoke rose higher and higher, which,
from time to time rolling back their dense
masses, showed sheets of fire and flame. Were
the Germans trying to set fire to the town ?
No one was near to enlighten us ; so, anxious
and uneasy, we retired to our cells, begging
earnest help from Heaven. Since the first
warning of bombardment one or other of us
stopped up at night, being relieved after
some hours, in case anything should happen
while the community took their rest.

INCIDENTS OF THE STRUGGLE

The most alarming news continued to
pour in. The soldiers, by means of their
telescopes, had descried two German aero-
planes throwing down petrole to set the
country and villages on fire. Were we to
expect the same fate ? Stories of German
atrocities reached us from all quarters ; but
what moved us most was the account of the
outrageous barbarities used upon women,
even upon nuns.

We were far from an end of our troubles.
Despite the danger and anxiety, we strove
to keep up religious life, and the regular
observances went on at the usual hours.
Instead of distracting us, the roar of the
battle only made us lift up our hearts with
more fervour to God; and it was with all
the ardour of our souls that we repeated,
at each succeeding hour of the Divine
Office : ' Deus, in adjutorium meum intende !
Domine, ad adjuvandum me festina!' The
liturgy of Holy Mass, also — one would have
said it had been composed especially for
the moment.

On Wednesday, October 28, between
1.30 and 2 p.m. — the hour for our pious
meditation — we were suddenly interrupted

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

by a noise to which we were not as yet accus-
tomed. It seemed at first to be only a
cannon-ball, flying off on its deadly errand ;
but instead of growing feebler, as the shell
sped away towards the German ranks, the
sound and whirr of this new messenger
of death grew ever louder and more rapid,
till it seemed, in its frightful rush, to be
coming straight on our doomed heads !
Instinctively some flew to the little chapel
of Our Blessed Lady at one end of the
garden ; others remained still where they
were, not daring to move, till after a
few seconds, which seemed interminable, a
deafening explosion told us that something
dreadful (alas ! we knew not what) must have
occurred. We learned, afterwards, that it
was the first of the bombs with which the
enemy, infuriated at the resistance of what
they disdainfully styled ' a handful of British
soldiers,' determined to destroy the town
which they already feared they would never
retake. The first bombs, however, did no
damage — the one which had so frightened
us falling into the moat which surrounds
Ypres, behind the Church of St. James, and
two others just outside the town. At about

INCIDENTS OF THE STRUGGLE

9.30 P.M., when we were retiring to our cells
after matins, another sound, far from musical,
fell on our ears. As usual, some sped
silently to the garrets, where, though hearing
strange noises, they could see nothing; so
everyone went to rest, concluding it was
the sound of bombs again. In fact the
Germans were bombarding the town. We
heard, the next day, that several houses in
the Rue Notre-Dame had been struck, and
all the windows in the street broken. The
owners innocently sent for the glazier to
have the panes of glass repaired, little think-
ing that, in a fev\^ weeks, scarce one window
would remain in the whole of Ypres.

Not content with fighting on the ground, it
seemed as though the sky also would soon
form a second battle-field. Aeroplanes passed
at regular hours from the town to the place
of encounter, to bring back news to the
Headquarters how the battle was waging.
Besides this, German Taubes made their ap-
pearance, waiting to seize their opportunity
to renew, with more success than their first
attempt, the disastrous ruin caused by the
bombs. It was high time to think of our dear
Abbess' safety. It was therefore decided

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

that she should take refuge at Poperinghe,
and Mother Prioress sent out for a carriage
to convey her there ; but in the general
panic which reigned, every possible means
of conveyance had been seized. After
several enquiries, a cab was at last secured,
and soon drove up to the convent. Our
dear Lady was so moved, when the news was
broken to her, that four of us were obliged
to carry her downstairs. After a little rest,
we helped her to the carriage, which had
driven round into the garden, to avoid the
inconveniences which would necessarily have
arisen had the departure taken place in the
street. It proved almost impossible to get
her into the carriage, owing to her inability
to help herself. At length, thanks to the
assistance of one of the Sisters of Providence,
who had been more than devoted to her ever
since her stroke, we succeeded ; and accom-
panied by Dame Josephine, a Jubilarian,
Dame Placid, and Sister Magdalen, our
beloved Abbess drove out of the enclosure,^
the great door soon hiding her from our
sight. Sad, troubled, and anxious, we turned

^ By the Constitution of the Order, the enclosure may be
broken in times of war, and in other cases provided for.

INCIDENTS OF THE STRUGGLE

back, wondering what would become of our
dear absent ones. Would they arrive safely
at their destination? Would they find kind
faces and warm hearts to welcome them ?
Only the boom of the guns mockingly
answered our silent enquiries.

Note to Chapter III
The ' Flag ' at Ypres

BY R. BARRY o'bRIEN

There is a ' legend ' of a ' blue flag ' said to
have been carried or captured by the Irish
Brigade at the battle of Ramillies, and which
was subsequently deposited in the Irish
convent at Ypres. This is a sceptical age.
People do not believe unless they see ; and I
wished to submit this * blue flag ' to the test of
ocular demonstration. Accordingly, in the
autumn of 1907, I paid a visit to the old
Flemish town, now so familiar to us all in its
misfortunes. I was hospitably received by
the kind and cheerful nuns who answered all
my questions about the flag and the con-
vent with alacrity. ' Can I see the flag ? ' —

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

'Certainly.' And the 'flag' was sent for.
It turned out not to be a blue flag at all.
Blue was only part of a flag which, it would
seem, had been originally blue, red, and
yellow. An aged Irish nun described the
flag as she had first seen it.

' It was attached to a stick, and I remem-
ber reading on a slip of paper which was on
the flag " Remerciements Refuged at Ypres,
170.. " The flag consisted of three parts
— blue with a harp, red with three lions, and
yellow. The red and yellow parts were
accidentally destroyed, and all that remains
is the blue, as you see it, with a harp ; and
we have also preserved one of the lions.
The story that has come down to us is that
it was left here after the battle of Ramillies
I think, but whether it was the flag of the
Irish Brigade, or an English flag captured
by them at the battle, I do not know.'

The flag, of course — blue with a harp, red
with three lions, and yellow — suggests the
royal standard of England, with a difference.
At the time of the battle of Ramillies,
the royal standard, or ' King's Colour,'
consisted of four quarterings : the first and
fourth quarters were subdivided, the three

INCIDENTS OF THE STRUGGLE

lions of England being in one half, the lion
of Scotland in the other. The fleurs-de-lis
were in the second quarter ; the Irish harp
was in the third. ^ But this (the Ypres) flag
had, when the nun saw it, only three
quarters — blue with harp, red with three
lions, and yellow ; the rest had then been
apparently destroyed.

At the famous battle of 1706, the Irish
Brigade was posted in the village of Ramillies.
They fought with characteristic valour,
giving way only when the French were
beaten in another part of the field. The
Brigade was commanded by Lord Clare, who
was mortally wounded in the fight. Charles
Forman writes, in a letter published in
1735 :— ^^

' At Ramillies we see Clare's regiment
shining with trophies and covered with
laurels even in the midst of a discomfited
routed army. They had to do with a
regiment which, I assure you, was neither
Dutch nor German, and their courage pre-
cipitated them so far in pursuit of their
enemy that they found themselves engaged
at last in the throng of our army, where

^ Enc. Brit. 11th ed.
43

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

they braved their fate with incredible reso-
lution. If you are desirous to know what
regiment it was they engaged that day, the
colours in the cloister of the Irish nuns at
Ypres, which I thought had been taken by
another Irish regiment, will satisfy your
curiosity.' ^

Mr. Matthew O'Conor, in his 'Military
Memoirs of the Irish Nation,' says : —

' Lord Clare . . . cut his way through
the enemy's battalions, bearing down their
infantry with matchless intrepidity. In the
heroic effort to save his corps he was mortally
wounded, and many of his best officers were
killed. His Lieutenant, Colonel Murrough
O'Brien, on this occasion evinced heroism
worthy of the name of O'Brien. Assuming
the command, and leading on his men with
fixed bayonets, he bore down and broke
through the enemy's ranks, took two pair
of colours from the enemy, and joined the
rere of the French retreat on the heights
of St. Andre.'

Forman does not state to what regiment
the colours belonged. O'Callaghan, in his
'History of the Irish Brigade,' quotes him as

^ Courage of the Irish Nation,
44

INCIDENTS OF THE STRUGGLE

saying : ' I could be much more particular
in relating this action, but some reasons
oblige me, in prudence, to say no more of it.'

O'Conor says that the colours belonged
to a celebrated English regiment. O'Calla-
ghan is more precise. He says : —

' According to Captain Peter Drake, of
Drakerath, County of Meath (who was at
the battle with Villeroy's army, in De
Couriere's regiment), Lord Clare engaged
with a Scotch regiment in the Dutch service,
between whom there was a great slaughter ;
that nobleman having lost 289 private
centinels, 22 commissioned officers, and 14
sergeants ; yet they not only saved their
colours, but gained a pair from the enemy.
This Scotch regiment in the Dutch service
was, by my French account, " almost entirely
destroyed " ; and, by the same account,
Clare's engaged with equal honour the
*' English Regiment of Churchill," or that
of the Duke of Marlborough's brother. Lieu-
tenant-General Charles Churchill, and then
commanded by its Colonel's son, Lieutenant-
Colonel Charles Churchill. This fine corps,
at present the 3rd Regiment of Foot, or the
Buffs, signalized itself very much in the

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

action with another, or Lord Mordaunt's,
" by driving three French regiments into a
morass, where most of them were either
destroyed or taken prisoners." But the
" Regiment Anglois de Churchill," according
to the French narrative, fared very differently
in encountering the Regiment of Clare, by
which its colours were captured, as well as
those of the " Regiment Hollandois," or
" Scotch regiment in the Dutch service." '

The question may, or may not, be pro-
blematical, but it seems to me that what I
saw in the convent at Ypres was a remnant
of one of the flags captured, according to the
authorities I have quoted, by the Irish
Brigade at the battle of Ramillies ; and that
flag was, apparently, the ' King's Colour '
which reproduces the royal standard.

CHAPTER IV

IN THE CELLARS

We were soon recalled from our reflections ;
for Mother Prioress, emerging from the
parlour, announced to us that we were to
have visitors that night. Two priests and
five ladies had begged to be allowed to come
to sleep in our cellars, as news had been
brought that the Germans might penetrate
into the town that very evening. One
could not refuse at such a moment, though
the idea was a novel one — enclosed nuns
taking in strangers for the night. But in
the face of such imminent peril, and in a
case of life or death, there was no room for
hesitation. So to work we set, preparing one
cellar for the priests, and another for the
ladies. In the midst of dragging down
carpets, arm-chairs mattresses, the news
soon spread that there was word from
Poperinghe. We all crowded round Mother

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

Prioress in the cellar, where, by the light of
a little lamp, she endeavoured in vain to
decipher a letter which Dame Placid had
hurriedly scribbled in pencil, before the
driver left to return to Ypres. The picture
was worth painting ! Potatoes on one side,
mattresses and bolsters on the other — a
carpet half unrolled — each of us trying to peep
over the other's shoulder, and to come as
near as possible to catch every word. But
alas ! these latter were few in number and
not reassuring. ' We can only get one room
for Lady Abbess. . . . Everywhere full up.
. . . We are standing shivering in the rain.

. . . Please send ' Then followed a

list of things which were wanting. Poor
Lady Abbess ! Poor Dame Josephine !
What was to be done ? Mother Prioress
consoled us by telling us she would send the
carriage back the first thing next morning
to see how everyone was, and to take all
that was required. We then finished off our
work as quickly as possible, and retired to
our own cellar to say compline and matins;
for it was already 10 o'clock. After this we
lay down on our ' straw-sacks ' — no one un-
dressed. Even our ' refugees ' had brought

IN THE CELLARS

their packages with them, in case we should
have to fly during the night. Contrary
to all expectations, everything remained
quiet — even the guns seemed to sleep.
Was it a good or evil omen ? Time
would show.

At 5 o'clock next morning the alarm-
clock aroused the community, instead of
the well-known sound of the bell. There
was no need, either, of the accustomed
' Domine, labia mea aperies ' at each cell
door. At 5.30, we repaired to the choir
as usual for meditation, and at 6 recited
lauds — prime and tierce. At 7, the
conventual Mass began ; when, as though
they had heard the long-silent bell, the guns
growled out, like some caged lion, angry
at being disturbed from its night's rest.
The signal given, the battle waged fiercer
than before, and the rattling windows,
together with the noise resounding through
the church and choir, told that the silence
of the night had been the result of some
tactics of the Germans, who had repulsed
the Allies. Day of desolation, greater than
we had before experienced ! Not because
the enemy was nearer, not because we were

49 E

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

in more danger, but because, at the end of
Holy Mass, we found ourselves deprived of
what, up till then, had been our sole consola-
tion in our anguish and woe. The sacred
species had been consumed — the tabernacle
was empty. The sanctuary lamp was
extinguished. The fear of desecration had
prompted this measure of prudence, and
henceforth our daily Communion would be
the only source of consolation, from which
we should have to derive the courage and
strength we so much needed.

The Germans nearer meant greater
danger ; so, with still more ardour, we set
to work, especially as we were now still
more reduced in numbers. The question
suddenly arose, ' Who was to prepare the
dinner ? ' Our cook, as has already been
said, had been one of the three German
Sisters who had left us on September 8;
subsequently, Sister Magdalen had replaced
her, and she, too, now was gone. After
mature deliberation. Dame Columban was
named to fulfil that important function.
But another puzzle presented itself — What
were we to eat ? For weeks, no one had
seen an egg ! Now, no milk could be got.

IN THE CELLARS

Fish was out of the question — there was
no one left to fish. To complete the
misery, no bread arrived, for our baker
had left the town. Nothing remained
but to make some small loaves of meal,
and whatever else we could manage — with
potatoes, oatmeal, rice, and butter (of which
the supply was still ample), adding apples
and pears in abundance. Edmund was sent
out to see if he could find anything in
the town. He returned with four packets
of Quaker oats, saying that that was all
he could find, but that we could still have
a hundred salted herrings if we wished to
send for them.

We had just begun the cooking, when
the tinkling of the little bell called every-
one together, only to hear that a German
Taube was sailing Just over the Abbey;
so we were all ordered down to the cellars,
but before we reached them there was crack !
crack ! bang ! bang ! and the rifle-shots
flew up, from the street outside the convent,
to salute the unwelcome visitor. But to
no purpose, and soon the sinister whistling
whirr of a descending projectile grated on
our ears, while, with a loud crash, the

51 ^2

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

bomb fell on some unfortunate building.
We had at first been rather amused at this
strange descent to our modern catacombs ;
but we soon changed our mirth to prayer,
and aspiration followed aspiration, till the
ceasing of the firing told us that the enemy
was gone. We then emerged from the
darkness, for we had hidden in the excava-
tion under the steps leading up to the
entrance of the Monastery, as the surest
place of refuge, there being no windows.
This was repeated five or six times a day;
so we brought some work to the cellars
to occupy us. The firing having begun
next morning before breakfast was well
finished, one sister arrived down with tea
and bread and butter. Later on, while
we were preparing some biscuits, the
firing started again ; so we brought down
the mixing-bowl, ingredients and all. We
continued our work and prayers and paid
no more attention to the bombs or the
rifle-shots.

Our dear Lady Abbess was not forgotten.
The next day Mother Prioress sent for the
carriage, while we all breathed a fervent
* Deo gratias ' that our aged Abbess was

IN THE CELLARS

out of danger ; for what would she have
done in the midst of all the bombs ? Owing
to the panic, which was now at its height,
all the inhabitants who were able were
leaving the town, abandoning their houses,
property — all, all — anxious only to save
their lives. There was no means of finding
a carriage.

Our life, by this time, had become still
more like that of the Christians of the first
era of the Church, our cellars taking the
place of the catacombs, to which they bore
some resemblance. We recited the Divine
Office in the provision cellar under the
kitchen, which we had first intended for
Lady Abbess. A crucifix and statue of Our
Lady replaced the altar. On the left were
huge wooden cases filled with potatoes, and
one small one of turnips — on the right, a
cistern of water, with a big block for cutting
meat (we had carefully hidden the hatchet,
in case the Germans, seeing the two together,
should be inspired to chop off our heads).
Behind us, other cases were filled with
boxes and sundry things, whilst on top of
them were the bread-bins. We were, how-
ever, too much taken up with the danger we

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

were in to be distracted by our surroundings.
We realised then, to the full, the weakness
of man's feeble efforts, and how true it is
that God alone is able to protect those who
put their trust in Him. The cellar adjoining,
leading up to the kitchen, was designed for
the refectory. In it were the butter-tubs, the
big meat-safe, the now empty jars for the milk.
A long narrow table was placed down the
centre, with our serviettes, knives, spoons, and
forks ; while everyone tried to take as little
space as possible, so as to leave room for her
neighbour. The procession to dinner and
supper was rather longer than usual, leading
from the ante-choir through the kitchen,
scullery, down the cellar stairs, and it was no
light work carrying down all the ' portions,'
continually running up and down the steps,
with the evident danger of arriving at the
bottom quicker than one wanted to, sending
plates and dishes in advance.

Time was passing away, we now had to
strip the altar — ^to put away the throne and
tabernacle. Some one suggested placing the
tabernacle in the ground, using a very large
iron boiler to keep out the damp, and thus
prevent it from being spoilt. This plan,

IN THE CELLARS

however, did not succeed, as will be seen.
Dame Teresa and Dame Bernard flew off to
enlarge the pit they had already begun,
watching all the time for any Taube which
might by chance drop a bomb on their heads,
and, indeed, more than once, they were
obliged to take refuge in the Abbey. Strange
to say, these things took place on Sunday, the
Feast of All Saints. It was rather hard work
for a holiday of obligation, but we obtained
the necessary authorisation. Towards even-
ing the hole was finished and the boiler placed
in readiness. But how lift the throne, which
took four men to carry as far as the inner
sacristy ? First we thought of getting some
workmen, but were any still in the town ?
No, we must do it ourselves. So, climbing
up, we gradually managed to slip the throne
off the tabernacle, having taken out the altar-
stone. We then got down ; and whether
the angels, spreading their wings underneath,
took part of the weight away or not, we
carried it quite easily to the choir, where,
resting it on the floor, we enveloped the whole
in a blanket which we covered again with a
sheet. The tabernacle was next taken in the
same manner, and, reciting the ' Adoremus,'

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

'Laudate,' *Adoro Te,' we passed with our
precious load through the cloisters into the
garden. It was a lovely moonlight night, and
our little procession, winding its way through
the garden paths, reminded us of the Levites
carrying away the tabernacle, when attacked
by the Philistines. We soon came to the
place, where the two ' Royal Engineers ' —
for so they had styled themselves (Dame
Teresa and Dame Bernard) — were putting
all their strength into breaking an iron bar
in two, a task which they were forced to
abandon. We reverently placed our burden
on the edge of the cauldron, but found it was
too small. Almost pleased at the failure,
we once more shouldered the tabernacle,
raising our eyes instinctively to the dark
blue sky, where the pale autumn moon shone
so brightly, and the cry of ' Pulchra ut luna '
escaped from our lips, as our hearts invoked
the aid of Her, who was truly the tabernacle
of the Most High. As we gazed upwards,
where the first bright stars glittered among
the small fleecy clouds, wondering at the
contrast of the quiet beauty of the
heavens and the bloodshed and carnage on
earth, a strange cloud, unlike its smaller

IN THE CELLARS

brethren, passed slowly on. It attracted
our attention. In all probability it was
formed by some German shell which had
burst in the air and produced the vapour
and smoke which, as we looked, passed
gradually away. We then re-formed our
procession and deposited the tabernacle in
the chapter-house for the night. Needless
to say, it takes less time to relate all this
than it did to do it, and numberless were the
cuts, blows, scrapes, and scratches, which we
received during those hours of true ' hard
labour ' ; but we were in time of war, and war
meant suffering, so we paid no attention to
our bruises.

Our fruitless enquiries for a means to
get news of Lady Abbess were at last
crowned with success. Helene, the poor
girl of whom mention has been already made,
and who now received food and help from
the monastery, came, on Sunday afternoon,
to say that tw^o of her brothers had offered
to walk to Poperinghe next day, and
would take whatever we wished to send.
After matins. Mother Prioress made up
two big parcels, putting in all that she
could possibly think of which might give

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

pleasure to the absent ones. The next
day was spent in expectation of the
news we should hear when the young
men returned.

Breakfast was not yet finished, when the
portress came in with a tale of woe. One of
our workmen was in the parlour, begging
for help. During the night a bomb had
been thrown on the house next to his ; and
he was so terrified that, not daring to remain
in his own house any more, he had come
with his wife and four little children to ask
a lodging in our cellars. For a moment
Reverend Mother hesitated ; but her kind
heart was too moved to refuse, and so
the whole family went down into the cellar
underneath the class-room, which was separ-
ated from the rest, and there remained as
happy as could be. We were soon to feel
the truth of the saying of the gospel, ' What
you give to the least of My little ones, you
give it unto Me.'

In the afternoon, we heard that the
cab -driver, who had been to the convent
on Friday, had spread the news that he
had been ordered to Poperinghe the next
day, to bring back the Lady Abbess and

IN THE CELLARS

nuns. What had happened ? Could they
not remain in their lodgings ? Did they
think that the bombardment had stopped
— just when it was raging more fiercely
than ever — when, every day, we thought
we should be obliged to flee ourselves ?
They must be stopped — but how ? Helene,
who was again sent for, came announcing
her two brothers' return. Mother Prioress
asked if it would be too much for them
to go back to Poperinghe to stop Lady
Abbess from returning. They, however,
declared they would never undertake it
again, the danger being too great, and it
being impossible to advance among the
soldiers. Mother Prioress then determined
to go herself, asking Helene if she would
be afraid to go with her to show the
way. Helene bravely replied that she was
not afraid and would willingly accompany
Mother Prioress. As usual, Mother Prioress
would allow none of us to endanger our
lives. She would go herself — and on foot,
as the price demanded for the only carriage
available was no less than 40 francs. In vain
we begged her to let one of us go. It was to
no purpose; and on Tuesday morning she

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

started off, accompanied by Helene, leav-
ing the community in a state of anxiety
impossible to describe. 'Would she be able
to walk so far ? ' we asked ourselves. ' What
if a bomb or shell were to burst on the
road ? ' ' Would she not probably miss Lady
Abbess' carriage ? ' We were now truly
orphans, deprived both of our Abbess and
our Prioress, and not knowing what might
happen to either of them. After an earnest
' Sub tuum ' and ' Angeli, Archangeli,' we
went about our different tasks ; for we had
promised Reverend Mother to be doubly
fervent in her absence. At 11 o'clock we
said the office and afterwards sat down
to dinner, for which no one felt the least
inclined. The latter was not yet finished,
when there was a ring at the door-bell,
and in a few moments our Prioress stood
before us. We could hardly believe our
eyes. She then related her adventures
which, for more accuracy, I give from
her own notes : —

' When I heard the door shutting
behind me, and the key turning in the
lock, in spite of all my efforts, the tears

IN THE CELLARS

came to my eyes. I was then really
out of the enclosure — back again in the
world— after twenty-seven years spent in
peaceful solitude. The very sight of the
steps brought back the memory of the
day when I mounted them to enter the
Monastery. I hesitated . . . There was still
only the door between us, but no ! my
duty lay before me. I must prevent Lady
Abbess returning; so, taking courage, I
started off with Helene, who was trying
all she could to console me. I followed
her blindly. As we advanced, the traffic
increased more and more. Motor-cars,
cavalry, foot-soldiers, cyclists, passed in
rapid succession. On the pavement, crowds
of fugitives blocked the passage. Old and
young, rich and poor, alike were flying,
taking only a few small packets with
them — their only possessions. Mothers,
distracted with grief, led their little ones
by the hand, while the children chattered
away, little knowing the misery which
perhaps awaited them. And the soldiers !
they never ceased. The Allies, in their dif-
ferent uniforms, passed and repassed in one
continued stream, while the motor-cars and

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

bicycles deftly wended their way between
soldiers and civilians. I was stupefied, and
thought at every moment we should be
run over ; but my companion, amused at
mv astonishment, assured me there was
nothing to fear. We had called on the
burgomaster for our passports; but he was
absent, and we had been obliged to go to
the town hall. After that, I called on M. le
Principal du College Episcopal, our chap-
lain, to state that it was impossible to
obtain a carriage (as I had arranged with
him that morning), owing to our poverty,
and that I should therefore be obliged to
go on foot. He approved of our under-
taking, and even advised me to take
the whole community straight away to
Poperinghe. I told him I must first prevent
Lady Abbess from coming back; but that,
once at Poperinghe, I intended certainly to
look out for a convent which would receive
us all. The British ambulance was estab-
lished in the college, and it seemed
really like barracks.

* Once in the street again, I heard, click !
clack ! ! the British soldiers were shooting
at a German Taube passing over the

IN THE CELLARS

town. We hastened on. Many houses
were ah'eady empty — nearly all the shops
were closed. Here and there a heap of
ruins showed where a shell had made its
way, while out of the broken windows,
the curtains blowing in the wind showed
the remains of what had once been
sumptuous apartments. We soon left the
station behind us, and continued on the
main road, with here and there a few
houses which seemed more safe by being
out of the town ; yet some of them had
also been struck. The regiments filled the
road more numerously than ever, while
the unfortunate fugitives, with a look of
terror on their pale faces, fled from the
doomed city. Some, who had left days
before, were venturing back again in the
hope of finding their homes still untouched.
We continued our way, stopped now and
then by some unfortunate creature, asking
where we were going, and relating in
return his story of woe. Suddenly I heard
myself called by name. *'Dame Maura!
Yes, it is really she!" and, at the same
moment, Marie Tack (an old pupil) flew
into my arms. Her brother, who accom-

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

panied her, now came forward, and took
great interest in everything concerning the
convent. " Well ! " he said, " we are bene-
factors of the Carmelites at Poperinghe —
my brother even gave them their house.
Say that it is I who have sent you, and you
will surely be well received." I thanked
him for his kindness and we parted, they
returning to Ypres, where they had not
dared to sleep. In my heart I sent a grate-
ful aspiration towards the Divine Providence
of God, which thus gave me this little ray
of hope. Meanwhile, the parcels we were
carrying began to weigh more and more
heavily on us. We helped each other as
best we could, as I saw that poor Helene
was almost out of breath, having taken
the heaviest for herself. The roads also
were very bad, and we could hardly advance
owing to the mud. At length, after walking
two hours, we saw the steeple of Vlamer-
tinghe in the distance. It was time, for
I felt I could not go farther. I remembered
that Louise Veys (another old pupil) lived
at Vlamertinghe, though I had forgotten
the address. I asked several people in
the streets if they could direct me, but I

IN THE CELLARS

received always the same answer : "I am
sorry not to be able to oblige you, Sister.
I am a stranger, I come from Ypres —
from Roulers — from Zonnebeke." At last, I
ventured to ring at the door of one of the
houses. It happened to be the very one I
was looking for. Louise, who was at the
ambulance, came running to meet me,
with Mariette and Germaine Tyberghein,
and Marie-Paule Vander Meersch. The latter
told me that the church of their village,
Langemarck, was burnt, and she feared
that their house, which was close by, would
have met with the same fate. At this
moment, her sister Claire, who had remained
with the wounded soldiers, came running
in, crying out : " Lady Abbess is here,
and Dame Josephine." — " Where ? " I ex-
claimed. Instead of answering, she took
me by the hand, and we both ran out to
where a cab was standing. I flew to the
door, and was soon in Lady Abbess' arms.
I could hardly restrain my tears. How
was it then that the carriage on its way
from Poperinghe to Ypres had stopped
just in front of the Veys' house, when neither
the driver nor anyone else knew to whom

65 ^

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

it belonged, or still less that I was there ?
Once again Divine Providence had come
to our help, otherwise we should have
missed each other. The cabman, who had
innocently been the means of our happy
meeting, by stopping to get refreshments, now
appeared. I explained that it was an act
of the greatest imprudence to conduct Lady
Abbess to Ypres; but he would listen to
nothing — meaning to go. He declared the
danger was far greater at Poperinghe, and
then drove away with Mother Abbess
to Ypres, leaving me in consternation.
Mariette and Germaine Tyberghein offered
me their carriage, to return to Ypres.
It was soon ready, and we started back
once more. Half-way to Ypres, we saw
the other cab again stationary, and a
British officer talking to the nuns through
the window. We called out to our coach-
man to stop, knocking at the window with
might and main. All was useless. The
noise of the innumerable horses, provision
and ammunition carts, passing, deafened
him, and he continued peacefully, quite
unaware that anything had happened.
When we arrived at Ypres, the Germans

IN THE CELLARS

were shelling it in real earnest. I wished
to go back again, to stop Lady Abbess
at any price, but was not allowed. They
said no one would be permitted to come
into the town, and that the other cab would
probably have been sent back.'

This day was not to pass without another
surprise ; for what was our astonishment, at
about eight o'clock, to see Dame Placid
once more in our midst ! The officer whom
Mother Prioress had seen talking through the
carriage-window, had said that on no account
could Lady Abbess think of going on to
Ypres, which was actually being bombarded.
The cab had thereupon gone back to Poper-
inghe; but Dame Placid had alighted, and
come to Ypres on foot. We crowded
round her to get news of all that had
happened during the last four days, which
seemed like four v/eeks. After we had related
all that had passed in the Monastery since
her departure. Dame Placid told us in return
what she had gone through. On the Friday
afternoon, when our poor refugees had
driven to Poperinghe, they went straight to
the Benedictine Convent, making sure they

67 F 2

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

would be received without any difficulty.
But alas ! the Monastery was full of soldiers,
and no less than fifty other fugitives were
waiting at the door. From there, they drove
to the Soeurs Polains where, also, every
corner was taken up — then they went on to a
private house, but always with the same result,
until at last some one directed them to La
Sainte Union, where they found a lodging.
It had been pouring rain the whole time,
and they were all cramped and cold. Poor
Lady Abbess missed so much the little
comforts she had had at the Abbey, and
finally resolved to return to Ypres, with the
result we know.

What could we now do to help her ? It
was decided that Sister Romana should go
back with Dame Placid to see if she could not
be of use. The two fugitives left at about
4 o'clock, pushing before them a kind of bath-
chair filled with packets and parcels for Lady
Abbess and the old nuns. A rather strange
equipment, which was doomed never to
reach its destination. Having, with the
greatest difficulty — owing to the condition of
the roads — arrived at Vlamertinghe, they were
stopped by several regiments passing. They

IN THE CELLARS

waited, waited, waited, till at last an officer,
seeing their distress, gave a signal, and
the soldiers halted to allow them to cross.
Despairing of ever reaching Poperinghe with
their load, they called at the house where
Mother Prioress had been received that
morning, and begged to leave the little
carriage and its contents there. They then
walked on more easily, and were able to get
to Lady Abbess before nightfall.

CHAPTER V

THE BOMBARDMENT

To return to the Abbey. Everything had
become suddenly animated there ; for, at
the departure of Dame Placid and Sister
Romana, Reverend Mother Prioress had
declared that we should all follow, taking
advantage of the occasion, as there was a
cessation of hostilities for the moment. In
vain some of us begged to be allowed to
remain behind ; but we had all to make
our last preparations and go. When, how-
ever, the packages turned up, each bigger
than the other, we looked at one another in
dismay. How should we ever drag such a
load with us ? Dame Columban and Dame
Bernard offered to try to find a workman to
help us, and their offer was finally accepted.
What happened they record.

'Mother Prioress gave us her blessing,
and let us out of the enclosure door. Oh

THE BOMBARDMENT

dear ! What a sensation ! Happy prisoners
for so many years, we now found ourselves
in the streets. With a shudder, we started
on our errand. We had not gone a hundred
paces, when, whizz . . . bang ! a shell passed
over our heads ; a moment after, whizz . . .
bang, another — then another — and another.
Half-way down the street, a British officer
on horseback cried out to us : *'Mes Soeurs
... a la maison." Where were we to go ?
We knew no one. We looked round to
find a place of refuge ; and, seeing a
man standing on his doorstep, timidly
asked if we might take shelter there. He
willingly agreed, seeming only too delighted
to bid us welcome. As soon as the officer
had vanished, we asked our kind host if he
could tell us where the workman (Chinche-
maillie) we were seeking lived, and on being
directed to his abode, we left the house.
Once more in the street, we hurried on.
While crossing the Grand' Place, a perfect
hail of shells and shrapnel came down on
all sides. Explosion followed explosion.
The soldiers and civilians crouched down by
the side of the houses whenever a shell
burst ; but we, ignorant of the great risk we
were running, walked bravely on. At length

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

we concluded we must have taken a wrong
turning ; so, meeting a pale-faced gentleman,
we asked him if he would be so kind as to put
us on the right road again. He was hurrying
along, burdened with parcels of all sizes,
and carrying a jug of milk. When we spoke
to him, he seemed almost dazed. '' Yes,
Sisters," he answered ''. . . certainly . . .
but . . . the Germans have just shelled
my house ... I am running to save my
life." We understood then why he looked so
disturbed; offering our deepest sympathy,
we begged him not to trouble. Recovering
himself, he assured us that he was going our
way, and would willingly accompany us.
We took some of his parcels from him,
and went along. At a turning in the street
we parted, having received further directions
from him and thanked him for his kindness.
Another man, having overheard our conver-
sation, came forward, and offered to conduct
us to the house in question. We went on,
passing several buildings which had been
much injured, and finally, the bombardment
raging all the time, arrived at our destination,
only to hear that the workman had left the
town in the morning, and had not been able
to re-enter it. The people of the house

THE BOMBARDMENT

showed us the greatest kindness, especially
on hearing who we were, and insisted on our
spending the night in their cellar, saying
it was far too dangerous to go out again.
We thanked them for their offer, but of
course set off again for the Monastery. Just
as we arrived at the Grand' Place, Helene,
who had already rendered such valuable
services to the community came running
towards us. She was breathless and almost
crying, having been searching for us every-
where ; we had been out so long, and the
bombardment had been so continuous, that
the nuns thought we must have been killed.
We soon got safely home, where we found
everyone in a dreadful state of anxiety.'

On hearing the continual explosions,
Mother Prioress and the community had
knelt down by the enclosure door, to pray
for the safe return of Dame Columban and
Dame Bernard. As they delayed so long.
Reverend Mother sent Edmund to ask Helene
to look for them. Having done so, Edmund
returned and did his best to persuade the
nuns that there was no need to leave the
Abbey. ' You have your cellars to shelter
you, why do you want to go ? What will

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

become of me, when you are gone ? If a
bomb falls on the convent, well, it will
be the will of God. Why not die here as
well as anywhere else ? ' We shall see later,
that when the shell really did fall on the
Abbey, the good man was anything but
resigned to die. As he perceived that he
gained nothing by his eloquence, he went out
into the street, and soon returned with a
soldier, to see if the new-comer might not
be more successful. The soldier was at first
rather bewildered at his new surroundings,
being an English Protestant, but was soon
set at ease on finding that we talked English.
At this moment the two wanderers came
back, and set everyone's heart at ease. Of
course there was no longer a question of our
leaving that night, especially as the soldier
assured us that there was no danger that
the Germans would get into Ypres, adding
that our cellars would be proof against all
their bombs. Edmund, by this time, was
triumphant, and pulling out his cigar-case,
offered it to the ' Tommy,' who insisted on
his accepting a cigarette in return. Edmund
then began to relate the story of his woes.
' What should I have to eat, if they

THE BOMBARDMENT

were to go ? ' he exclaimed. ' Imagine,
the other day the Sister brought me my
dinner. What did I see ? I could hardly
believe my eyes ! A piece of beef-steak. I
sat down in high glee ; for I do not remember
when I had had a piece before. What was
my disappointment to find what I had taken
to be a beef-steak was nothing else than a
piece of fried brown bread. I could have
thrown it in the fire.' The soldier then
took his leave, though not before Mother
Prioress had given him a badge of the
Sacred Heart, which he promised to wear
always as a souvenir of his visit to our
Abbey. We took care, also, to give him as
many apples and pears as he could put
into his pockets.

The number of people seeking shelter
for the night in the convent increased con-
stantly. Already, some thirty persons had
come ; some bringing their own mattresses,
the others depending on our charity. We
gave all that we had. In the end, no fewer
than fifty-seven persons came for a night's
lodging. Numberless poor came also during
the day for food, for they could not find
anything to eat in the town ; bakers,

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

butchers, grocers — all had fled to save their
lives. We were in the greatest necessity
ourselves, but still gave to all who asked.
We experienced the truth of our Lord's
words, ' Give, and you shall receive,'
when, a few days later, we were in the
streets — without a house, without food,
without money. It was then, indeed, that
we received a hundredfold the charity we
showed towards those who applied to us in
their distress.

On the Wednesday morning, Our Lord
gave us a little surprise. Our chaplain had
been obliged to leave Ypres the evening
before, to place the nuns who lived in his
college in safety. But the Divine Master
watched over us, and instead of the one
Mass which we had lost. He sent us two
French military priests to offer up the Holy
Sacrifice for us. Reverend Mother presented
her excuses for the poor breakfast they
received — for we had nothing to give them
but the bread which we had made ourselves
out of meal, and some pears — asking their
opinion of the situation. They strongly
advised us to leave while there was yet time
and enquired where we thought of going.

THE BOMBARDMENT

Mother Prioress told them that the Lady
Abbess of Oulton Abbey in England had
offered, from the very outset of the War, to
take the whole community, but the great
question was how to get so far. They said
that we ought to apply to the British Com-
mand for help, expressing the opinion that
the English ambulance, established at the
college of which our chaplain was the Presi-
dent, would surely come to our assistance.
They then left, saying how delightful it had
been to have found such a peaceful spot in
which to say Mass, after the noise and horrors
to which they had been so long accustomed.
The day passed slowly. The Germans
were gaining ground. The noise of the
Allied guns was now deafening. We were
obliged to leave all the windows ajar, to
prevent the glass being broken by the
shocks, which made the house tremble from
the garrets to the cellar. Monoplanes and
biplanes, friendly and hostile, passed con-
tinually overhead — the former chasing the
latter, which were dropping bombs without
end on the town. At last, two friendly
aeroplanes undertook to mount guard, and
remained continually hovering round and

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

round ; but even then, the Taubes came ; and
the fighting went on in the air, as well as on
all sides of us. The risks of remaining were
certainly great ; and yet — why leave our
Abbey, when it was still untouched ? We
were sure of a warm welcome at Oulton ; but
how could the whole community get there,
and, above all, our beloved Lady Abbess ? On
the other hand, how were we to live in Ypres ?
Not only were we in danger of being killed
at any moment, but there was no longer
any means of getting food. For several
days Edmund had, with the greatest diffi-
culty, procured two pints of skimmed
milk ; but even this would soon cease.
Again, there was certainly no more prospect
of receiving any money in Belgium, where
the banks had all been robbed. We had paid
our debts prior to the commencement of
hostilities ; and so had very little money
left. In the afternoon, Mother Prioress
determined to go out and seek for informa-
tion at the British Headquarters ; for every-
one seemed to have deserted the stricken
town. She took Dame Columban and Dame
Patrick with her. They went first to the
college. At the end of the Rue St. Jacques,
a French soldier gave a military salute and

THE BOMBARDMENT

advanced towards them. It was one of
the priests who had said Mass for the
community in the morning. He accom-
panied the three nuns as far as the college,
but told them that the ambulance had
left during the night, which was a very
bad sign ; for when the wounded were
removed, it showed that there was great
danger. He also promised to attend the
next morning at 5 o'clock to say Mass.
It was notified that the Headquarters were
to be found a mile and a half out of Ypres.
The burgomaster had also left the town.
Going to the houses of several influential
people — M. and Mme. le Senateur Fracy
de Venbeck and Mme. Van den Berghe and
others — friends of the Monastery, Mother
Prioress and her companions found them
all locked up, and the inhabitants gone.
One big shop was burning, and the French
soldiers were trying to put the fire out.
A baker's establishment had a large hole
in the roof. It was pouring rain, and the
nuns had no umbrella ; so they turned their
steps homewards. But their mission was
not to prove useless ; for Divine Providence
had arranged that they were to help one
of His poor creatures. Having arrived

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

at the Grand' Place, they were stopped by
an EngUsh officer, who pointed to a cart,
driven by a soldier, which was following them.
In it was an old woman lying, apparently
helpless. He explained to them that, passing
by a deserted village, which had been
destroyed by the Germans, he had found
her lying in a ditch. He had lifted her
into the cart and taken her along with him,
and he now asked if the nuns could not direct
him to some hospital or institute where she
would be taken care of. They went with
him as far as the Hospice, where the
officials declared they had more work than
they could possibly attend to ; still, as Mother
Prioress begged so hard, they took her in.
The poor old woman was over ninety.
How many are there who, like her, find
themselves turned out of the little home,
which had perhaps cost them their whole
life's savings. Why should the poor, the
aged, the infirm, the innocent, suffer to
satisfy the ambition of the unjust ? Truly,
' My ways are not your ways, saith the
Lord.' In eternity, lost in the blissful
contemplation of God's infinite perfec-
tions, we shall understand the wisdom of

THE BOMBARDMENT

those things which now surpass our poor
intelHgence.

On Thursday morning, we arose at
4.30 from what might truly be styled ' our
humble couch,' to be ready for the promised
Mass at 5 o'clock. During the night, we
had harboured the Sisters of Providence, who
were leaving next day. Having waited half
an hour, and no priest coming, we recited
lauds, prime, and tierce. We again waited in
all patience, but no one appeared. We could
not miss Holy Mass and Communion — it was
the only source of consolation left to us;
besides, we never knew if, perhaps, we should
live to see the following day. The regiment
to which the priests belonged had probably
been ordered off during the night — hence the
reason of their non-arrival. At 7.30 Mother
Prioress assembled us all at the enclosure
door, and, leaving Edmund in charge of the
convent, we put down our veils, and two by
two, started for the Carmelite Convent,
situated a little way down the street. There
we learned that the nuns had left the day
before. We were determined not to miss
Mass at any cost, so continued as far as
the Church of St. James, where we arrived

81 G

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

in the middle of one Mass, after which we
received Holy Communion, and then had
the happiness of assisting at another Mass
— celebrated also by a French chaplain,
though not one of those who had been at
the Abbey the day before. On our way
home, we were met by a priest of the
parish, who had served Mass for a long time
in our chapel, when he was a young boy,
and, returning to Ypres years after, had
always remained attached to the community.
He was touched to see us thus obliged to
break our beloved enclosure, and spoke
words of courage and consolation to us.

The day passed in great anxiety, relieved
by one little incident, which, in spite of all
our perils and troubles, afforded us amuse-
ment. Dame Columban, busy cooking in the
kitchen, found no dishes coming from the
scullery, where Sister Winefride now presided
at the washing up. She looked in, asking
when the things would be clean, and found
the Sister, bending over a tub of boiling water,
looking very tired and hot, and received an
answer, that all would soon be finished.
Some time passed, but no dishes came.
Being at a loss to know the cause of the delay,

THE BOMBARDMENT

she went once more to the scullery to enquire,
and found things in exactly the same state
as before. On asking what was wrong,
Sister Winefride exclaimed, in a piteous tone
of voice : ' Do you really think we are going
this morning ? ' — ' Of course not ! who said
so ? ' 'I don't know, but I thought perhaps
we might ; so, in order not to have too much
to carry, I have put on two habits, two
scapulars, two petticoats, and I do feel so
hot ! If I may just go to our cell and change,
I think I'll get on better ! ' Having, as
may easily be imagined, obtained the per-
mission, she soon came joyfully back to her
work.

We no longer believed the assurance the
British soldiers gave us, that we were quite
safe, and we now set to work to lighten our
packages as much as possible, only taking
what was strictly necessary; it being even
decided that we should onlv take one
breviary each, and leave the other three
behind. There still remained a good deal
to carry ; for we were to take some provisions,
not knowing if we should find refuge at
Poperinghe, or if we should have to go

straight to England. It was absolutely

83 G 2

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

necessary to find some means of carrying
our packages, were it but a wheelbarrow.
Mother Prioress now found a reward for her
charity, for the poor workman, whom she
had so kindly received with his family in the
cellar, hearing of our distress, found a hand-
cart, and, what was more, promised to push
it for us.

The next day, Friday, we went out
again to Holy Mass in St. James's, having
had very few people in the cellar, for all
those who could possibly leave the town
had already done so. When we returned.
Mother Prioress announced her decision to
go to the Headquarters, and set off im-
mediately, accompanied by Dame Patrick,
without even taking her breakfast. The
rest of the community went about their
different occupations, until she should
return. Nine o'clock struck, half-past nine,
ten, half-past ten, still no Mother Prioress !
To say we were anxious but feebly ex-
presses our state of mind. The shells
and bombs were flying in all directions ;
and the explosions — joined to the firing of
the guns — resembled some huge machinery
with its never-ceasing boom and crash.

THE BOMBARDMENT

We prepared the dinner, which consisted
of salt herrings and fried potatoes ; but there
was no account of the Mother Prioress as
yet. Each ring at the door made us crowd
round in joyful expectation, but each time
a disconsolate ' No ' was all the answer
we received from the portress. We recited
Sext and None, but no Mother Prioress
as yet ! We consulted together as to what
should be done. Some thought Reverend
Mother must have been kept — others that
she had perhaps found a motor-car, and
had seized the opportunity to go to Poper-
inghe to see Lady Abbess. The dinner
was spoiling on the fire, yet no one cared
to sit down to eat. The bell rang, but
we scarcely had the heart to answer it — -,
we had been disappointed so often. We
felt sure we should only hear another
' No.' Suddenly a joyous ringing of the
little hand-bell, which had served alike to
announce the Divine Office, and to warn
us of German Taubes passing overhead,
brought everyone to their feet, and we
soon crowded round our dear Prioress to
beg her blessing, asking all together for
an explanation of her long absence. For

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

greater surety we shall cite her own
notes : —

' The Headquarters had left the town, we
had therefore a long way to go. In town,
there was ever the same movement of
troops, but the aspect seemed still more
mournful. The shells had begun their
work of destruction on the Grand' Place.
A corner of the Halles had been struck. A
house had received a bomb on the roof,
which, penetrating the building, carried away
half of the front, making its way through
ceilings and floors, throwing the furniture
to right and left, carrying chairs down into
the very cellar. The people standing around
were looking on aghast. We passed on, but
soon a poor woman stopped us : " And you
Sisters, from where do you come ? " — " We
are the Irish Dames of St. James's Street."
" Oh yes ! I know the convent well. Are
you also leaving ? " — " I am afraid we shall
be obliged to do so ! " — and we continued
our walk. We had already turned off into
another street, when we heard hurried steps
behind us, and some one crying out :

'' Sisters, Sisters ! Zvisters, Zusters ! " It

THE BOMBARDMENT

was the good woman again, with her kind
face, her big handkerchief round her head,
and her blue Flemish apron. " Zuster !
Don't leave the town, come home with me,
we are poor, but still you can have my
house and all I have." — " Good woman,"
I said, taking her two hands, " thank you
a thousand times, do not be anxious for us.
Our Lord will take care of us." I could
have kissed the dear creature then and
there. We could not stop. Soon a crowd
blocked our passage. " A shell struck here
last night " they explained to us — it was
the Cercle Catholique — " and penetrated
into the cellar where a poor man had taken
refuge with his three children, thinking he
would be more protected here than in his
own home, and there is his house (just two
buildings farther on) untouched. The man
has his hand off, two children are killed,
and the third, a girl, is dying ! "

' By this time we had made our way
through the crowd. The fugitives were
continually passing, leaving homes and all
behind. At length we arrived at the
residence of the staff officers. We explained
our case to one of them, who received us

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

very courteously, and who told us the
best thing to do would be to address our-
selves to General Sir Douglas Haig. An
orderly informed him that Sir Douglas had
left for Brielen. The officer advised us to go
there. It was already 8.30, and we had
still a good hour's walk before us. The
road resembled that to Poperinghe. One
must have seen the continual passage of
troops, motor-cars, horses, fugitives, in the
narrow lanes, the roads inches thick with
mud, to have a true idea of it. Here and
there a house struck by a shell, or be-
spattered with mud almost to the roof,
gave an indescribable air of sadness to
the surroundings ; while a bouquet of flowers,
or an odd bibelot discarded in a shop-
window, remained as a last souvenir of the
joys and prosperity of our brave little
Belgium. Brielen now came in sight. We
stopped before the Calvary, erected at the
entrance to the cemetery, and then paid a
visit to the church. On coming out, we
met the Cure of the village, who inter-
ested himself in our trials and sorrows. We
then asked ^ the way to the Headquarters,
where we found it was impossible to see Sir

THE BOMBARDMENT

Douglas. His aide-de-camp gave us some
rather vague information, but kindly offered
to get us seats in a motor-car that was
leaving for Poperinghe. It did not start,
however, till midday, and even then I
could not go without telling the community
at Ypres. We set out on our way back to
Ypres. Just outside the village a poor
woman, all in tears, stopped us, showing us
a big cavity which a shell had just made
in the ground by her farm. " I should
have been killed," she exclaimed, " except
for the brave English soldiers, who, seeing
the shell coming in my direction, had just
the time to take me up and push me into
the farm, but my cow is gone ! Our little
farm was all our fortune ! " and she wiped
away the tears with a corner of her
apron. Poor dear ! How many are there
still more unfortunate than she ! As we
approached the town, the whistling shriek
of the shells became more distinct ; the
Germans were bombarding Ypres as hard
as they could. We found ourselves almost
alone in the streets. Here and there a
few soldiers remained in the doorways of
the houses. A shell flew straight over us !

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

What a protection of Divine Providence !
A few steps off a building was struck, and we
just escaped getting a shower of bricks and
glass on top of us. " Come to the other
side ! " Dame Patrick called out. We crossed
over, murmuring aspirations all the time.
A little farther on another shell burst, and
the house we had just passed fell a heap
of shapeless ruins. We hastened our steps
to get out of the street, which seemed to be
the chief point of attack. We then breathed
more freely, till — arrived at the Grand'
Place — we were welcomed by a regular
shower of shells which flew in all directions.
Happily we had almost reached our destina-
tion, though, had it not been for Dame
Patrick, I should never have known my
way, but should probably have passed by
the Monastery. At the door we met two
brave Britishers whom I told to come into
the parlour, where they w^ould be more out
of danger. They did not feel afraid, and
said they were sent to search for some
bread ; for they could not get any in the
town. I gave them some of the provisions
which we were to take with us, with a little
pot of butter, and — what I knew they liked

THE BOMBARDMENT

so much — as many pears as they could
carry. They were dehghted, and so were
we. We then talked of the war, and the
old story came back again, the hope so
cherished by all, and yet also not realised :
" Oh ! it will soon be over. We'll be home
for Christmas !

?5 5

Our poor dinner was now served, the
last we were to take in the dear old home.
The reading was made aloud as usual.
The subject was ' Holy Poverty ' — truly ap-
propriate for the times and surroundings.
The last words which the reader pronounced
before the signal was given, were : ' The
Lord has given, the Lord has taken away !
May His Holy Name be blessed ! ' Had
we prepared the reading beforehand, it could
not have been better chosen. Our dear Lord
had truly given us our Abbey, and had
made it withstand the course of years, with
all the changes of government, wars, and
revolutions, which had swept over Belgium,
especially Flanders — and now He was taking
it away. May His Holy Name be blessed !

CHAPTER VI

FLIGHT

During dinner the bombardment had been
at its height. In that short half-hour
almost twenty shells had burst quite close
to us. It was our side of the town that
was being attacked — already a poor woman,
begging for something to eat, had told
the portress that the roof of the college
was struck. Mother Prioress, deaf to all
entreaties, said that everyone without excep-
tion was to be ready at 2 o'clock. We went
about, looking — perhaps for the last time — at
the dear old scenes, which we had thought
to leave only when death should knock at
our door.

We had already placed on every window
of the convent a paper badge of the Sacred
Heart, and lastly erected a niche outside one
of the garret windows, in which we put the
miraculous statue of Our Lady of the

FLIGHT

Angels, which had remained unhurt outside
the Monastery in the siege of Ypres, in
1744. We had done all we could and must
now abandon all, leaving everything under
the double protection of the Mother and the
Son.

A little after 2 o'clock the hand-cart came
round to the door. All the packages could not
fit in it, in spite of Reverend Mother having
made us take out nearly all we had gathered
together ; for she had learnt by experience,
in carrying the things she had prepared for
Lady Abbess as far as Vlamertinghe, three
days before, the difficulties of walking so
far, and carrying a heavy parcel at the
same time. The enclosure door was then
fastened on the inside, and all other import-
ant rooms or cupboards being likewise
locked, we passed with a last farewell
through the long-loved choir, which had
known the joys and sorrows of our whole
religious life.

We then went through the outer church
into the sacristy, locking the door of the
grille behind us. There was but one more
door which separated us from the outside
world — one door more ! and we should be out

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

of our enclosure, perhaps never more to
return ! There was a pause in our sad pro-
cession— the key was not there. Our Lord
watched over us once more ; for, had we then
continued in our procession, some of us would
inevitably have been badly hurt, if not indeed
killed. After a few minutes' waiting, the key
was brought, and already placed in the key-
hole, when a loud explosion, accompanied by
a terrific crash which shook the entire build-
ing, laid us all prostrate . . . Bewildered,
rather than afraid, we arose, and saw,
through the window, a shower of bricks and
glass falling into the garden. The first —
though not the last — shell had struck our
well-loved Abbey.

We now realised that there was no time to
waste. Already Edmund was screaming out
from the other side of the still-locked door.
' Why don't you come ? I told you, you
should have left long ago. The convent is
struck ! We shall all be killed if you don't
make haste ! ' The door was opened, and
with an indescribable feeling of horror,
mingled with uncertainty, we went out. In
the street we raised our ej^es in one sad fare-
well to our beloved Monastery ; and there,

FLIGHT

out of the cell windows, principally that of
Mother Prioress, a cloud of vapour and
smoke told us of the passage of the shell ;
while the remains of the garret windows
overhead and other debris of slates, bricks,
wood and glass, strewn on the pavement,
proved without a doubt, that Divine Provi-
dence had truly intervened in allowing the
little delay in the sacristy, but for which
we should have been just on the spot when
all this had happened. A cry of anguish
arose from our hearts as, hurrying along the
deserted street, we saw our convent thus
apparently burning.

Half-way down the street, another explo-
sion behind us made us look round to see if
the Abbey had again been struck, but no !
this time it was the Institut Saint-Louis,
just in front. Turning the corner, we saw
some ' Tommies ' scrambling out of a
house which had also been shelled. As we
stumbled over the bricks which covered the
road, Edmund hurrying us on for bare life,
one of the soldiers caught sight of us, and
calling out to another to come to help
' the Sisters ' he threw down the bundle
he was carrying, and seizing two of ours, he

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

walked along with us, his comrade doing the
same. We shall continue the narrative from
the notes of Dame Patrick : —

'As we were nearing the Rue de Lille, where
the shells were falling thickly, two soldiers
came forward to help us with our packages.
We chatted as we hurried along, stopping
every one or two minutes, to avoid a shower of
bricks, as we heard a shell hiss over our heads
and fall on one of the houses by us. One of
us remarked to the soldiers : " It is very
kind of you to help us." To our delight they
answered, "It is our same religion, and our
same country." They were both Irish
Catholics — one from Kerry, the other from
Belfast. When we reached the outskirts of
the town they were both obliged to turn
back, not having leave to quit Ypres.
The Kerry man left us hurriedly ; but our
man from Belfast ventured a little farther,
though in the end he thought it wiser to return
to his regiment. So we shook hands with
him, and thanked him heartily, wishing him
good luck and a safe return to dear old
Ireland ! Our good Mother Prioress had a
bag of pears in her hand, so she said to him :

FLIGHT

" Here, take these pears and eat them, and
we will pray for you." But he turned away,
and said, " No, no, keep them for yourselves."
Here the poor fellow broke down and cried.
He hurried away, waved his hand, and
wished us God-speed. I happened, during
this little scene, just to have moved on,
thinking Mother Prioress was by me. How-
ever, on looking round, I saw she was some
distance behind, so I walked back to join
her. To my surprise, I found her weeping.
I felt very shaky myself, but did not want
to seem so. I jokingly said, " Oh ! Mother
Prioress, what is the matter ? " Then she
told me what had happened, and said, " I
could keep up no longer when I saw that
dear, kind, genuine Irish-hearted man break
down — how I wish I could know his name ! "
" Come along," I said, " let us hope that
one day we shall find it out, but don't
cry any more or you'll have me joining in
too." I then thought on my brave, tender-
hearted countrymen who had left home and
country to serve in the British army as
Belgium's friends and protectors, and I felt
proud and happy that we Irish Benedic-
tines should have fallen in so often with

07 ^ a

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

Irishmen, always meeting with the same
kind-heartedness . '

We had left the town in a terrible state.
Through several streets which we passed,
we could not see the other side on account of
the clouds of smoke and dust, occasioned
by the bursting of the shells and the falling
buildings. Several telegraph posts lay across
the road, with the wires hopelessly twisted
and broken. Soldiers were running to and
fro, propping up walls which had been
shaken by an explosion in the vicinity, or
making for some new ruin to see if they
could be of any use. At last leaving the
terrible sight behind us, we passed by the
Rue d'Elverdinghe, on to the road leading
to Poperinghe. Here we picked up the good
fellow who was pushing the hand-cart.
He took some more packages, tying them all
together with a stout rope to prevent them
falling off. His wife and little children
were also there, for they dared not remain
in the town. How glad were we now that
Reverend Mother had listened to our chap-
lain, when he told her not to wait till the
last moment to place dear Lady Abbess in

FLIGHT

safety. What would she have done in
the midst of those dreadful shells, which,
although we had left the town far behind
us, still continued — though we heard them
not so loudly now — to fly on their errand
of destruction towards poor, unfortunate
Ypres.

There is no need to describe the marching
of the troops as they passed us on the way,
as Mother Prioress has already mentioned
it in her notes. What left the deepest
impression on our memories was the thick
slimy mire we had to wade through. In
some places it was so bad that it was almost
impossible to get on — we seemed to slide
back two steps for every one that we made
forward. We trudged bravely on, but
before we had gone a quarter of the way
some of us were already au bout. We, who
for years had not walked more than six or
seven times round our little garden, were
certainly little fitted to go some nine miles
in that dreadful mud, and carrying parcels
which, by this time, seemed to weigh tons.
At last Vlamertinghe came in sight. If
only it had been Poperinghe ! We were
not even quite half-way. We could hardly

99 H 2

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

push through the crowds of fugitives, each
with his or her bundles of different colour,
shape, and size. Some men had four pack-
ages, two in front and two behind, slung over
their shoulders ; others were bent in two with
huge sacks on their backs ; others pushed
wheelbarrows or perambulators in front of
them ; while some were content with a
little bundle tied up in a pocket-handker-
chief. One respectable-looking man carefully
hugged two umbrellas — were they his only
treasures ? We passed through the village,
and on, on, on 1 always in company of
troops, motor-cars, and refugees. The latter
accosted us from time to time to ask who
we were and where we came from. They
nearly all seemed to know the lersche
Van Damen von S. Jacob's Straat ! Several
officers and soldiers saluted us also as we
passed. If only the driver of some motor-car
would have given us a lift, but they flew past
so quickly — they probably did not even see
us. The mason's little children took turn by
turn to have a ride on the hand-cart, seated
on the top of all the bundles, while the others
hung out of the poor mother's arms, who
cheered them on, and told them wonder-

100

FLIGHT

ful tales in Flemish. One little boy was
squeezing an almost imperceptible black
puppy, which he would not let go for all
the world. While the young gentleman
was having his turn for a ride there was
a sudden halt on the way. The wee doggie
had managed to wriggle out of his master's
tight embrace and, making good use of his
long-sighed-for liberty, had fallen out of
the cart. Luckily, no bones were broken,
owing to the soft carpet of mud into which
he sank. Indeed, the poor cart was obliged
to stop more than once, either to make way
for two regiments who were marching in
different directions, or for two or three
motor-cars passing all at once, and, often
enough, getting literally ' stuck in the
mud,' or to give a rest to Edmund and the
workman, who had a hard time of it.

It was now getting dark, and a thick
mist was rising. The sound of the firing
was getting more and more feeble as we
left Ypres farther and farther behind.
From time to time, a dead horse, stretched
out in the ditch or in a field close by, would
make us turn away from the mournful sight.
We walked and walked — would we never

101

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

arrive at our destination ? It became darker
at every moment — we were obliged to keep
well together, for fear of being left' behind.
The trees which lined the road loomed out
as though they had been some unearthly
spectres, with their leafless branches like
gaunt arms uplifted towards the sky to
call down vengeance on the earth ; while,
magnified through the thick mist, the
moon tinged with red seemed to reflect the
bloodshed and carnage of the battle-field.

At last we caught sight of a feeble
glimmer which — unlike the lights of the
motor-cars, as they sped along, throwing
an electric flash into our dazzled eyes and
then vanishing, leaving the darkness more
intense — grew brighter and brighter as we
advanced. Could it really be Poperinghe ?
We hastened on, almost forgetting our
fatigue. Yes, we were truly there — it was
Poperinghe ! But where were we to turn
our steps ? Soon we were surrounded by
a crowd. Soldiers and civilians, men and
women, looked with commiseration on this
new group of fugitives who added to the
number of those who already filled the
town. Reverend Mother asked to be

102

FLIGHT

directed to the Carmelites, remembering
the recommendation of Mr. Tack. Two
girls offered to conduct us there. At this
moment a gentleman came forward asking
what we desired (we only discovered later
that it was the Judge). In a few words,
Mother Prioress explained the situation.
On hearing mention made of La Sainte
Union, where Lady Abbess had taken refuge,
he informed us it was quite close at hand,
that if we wished he would conduct us there
first ; and in case there should not be room
for us all, he would undertake to find us
lodgings. Needless to say, we willingly
accepted the proposal, and in a few minutes
we found ourselves in a cheery little parlour,
awaiting the Superioress' decision. The per-
mission was accorded at first rather hesi-
tatingly, and for one night only. Was it
astonishing ? The poor nuns had just given
up the school premises to the French Ambu-
lance ; they had also given refuge to a com-
munity from Oostnienukerke, who were
afterwards rejoined by their Sisters from
Passchendaele, and now we arrived also !
However, when they discovered that we
really were what we made ourselves out

103

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

to be, and not German spies, or vagrants —
and especially as, during the conversation,
one of the elder nuns found that she had
formerly been the mistress of Mother Prioress
when she had been to the convent at Haze-
brouck in preparation for her first Com-
munion, the community having been expelled
from France eleven years before — they soon
changed, and for a whole fortnight showed
us every kind of hospitality.

Now Dame Placid and Sister Romana
heard the news, and came running down
to welcome us, then Sister Magdalen and
dear Dame Josephine. The meeting was a
happy one, which however soon changed to
sadness, when we related what had happened
to the old Abbey. We were impatient to see
our beloved Lady Abbess. Soon our dear
Prioress, who had gone first to break the
news gently, reappeared, and we all trooped
upstairs, little dreaming of the sad scene
which that very little parlour would witness
in less than a fortnight's time. Lady
Abbess was at once both anxious and
pleased ; so, after an exchange of greetings,
and having received her blessing, we retired.
We now began to realise what we had done.

104

FLIGHT

It was all so strange ; we were now truly poor,
not knowing what would befall us. ' Sacre
Coeur de Jesus, j'ai confiance en Vous ! '
We were really and truly destitute of all
human aid, and depended solely on our
loving Father in Heaven for everything.

Soon the good nuns had prepared supper
for us, after which we made a visit to the
church, and then were not sorry to be shown
the way to the dormitory. It had belonged
to the children, who, owing to the war, had
not returned after the holidays. Oh dear !
"Where were our cells ? Here there were not
even alcoves, but some pretty-looking cur-
tains covering two sides of each bed. We
were not even alone in the dormitory,
several beds being already occupied. Sud-
denly, to our great surprise, Antoinette
Doone, one of our old pupils, who had
always remained especially attached to
Mother Prioress, threw herself into Reverend
Mother's arms saying that she also was
stopping at La Sainte Union with her two
servants. She was delighted at the idea of
sharing the dormitory with her old mistresses.
Truly the war brought about strange coin-
cidences, and made us meet with devoted

105

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

friends when we least expected it. Soon
we were reposing on a soft mattress and
spring bed, and unaccustomed to such luxury,
as well as worn out by the fatigues of the
day, we were not long in falling asleep.

106

CHAPTER VII

VISITING THE WOUNDED

It was late the next morning when we awoke,
for there were no guns to disturb our
slumbers. However, we were up in time for
the last Mass. Having breakfasted, we set
to work to carry our parcels upstairs, and
to clean our shoes, which, owing to our
peregrinations, were hardly recognisable,
being simply clotted with mire and dirt.
This finished, we made our first visit
to the wounded soldiers in the ambulance.
What a scene of suffering met our eyes !
If it made us realise, more than ever, that we
had left our beloved enclosure, still it gave
us an insight into human misery which we
should never have had, had we remained
peacefully in our Abbey. The ensemble
was not yet organised, only those down-
stairs having bedsteads — the poor soldiers
upstairs lying on straw on the floor. The

107

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

impression made was ineffaceable. We now
saw what war really meant, and we left,
after having distributed little cakes, biscuits
and sweets, with a promise to come back
as often as we could.

Mother Prioress was now called for, to
see Edmund and the poor family who had
not been received in the convent, as the
Superioress had been threatened with a
summons if she received any refugees.
They had been directed to the police station,
where, having presented themselves, they
had been placed in an inn, and had passed
the night in an attic on some straw. They
were also starving, having had nothing to
eat. They were quickly given some of our
provisions, and Mother Prioress paid the
mason for his hard work of the day before.
Being now a little consoled, he said he would
go off with his wife and children to a village
close by, to see if he would not be more
successful in getting a lodging there. Ed-
mund remained, lamenting loudly over his
misfortunes. The chaplain of the com-
munity passing by, and hearing his sad
tale, had compassion on the poor man,
and told him he might sleep at his house,

108

VISITING THE WOUNDED

while the nuns arranged to give him his
meals. After some days, however, he found
the priest's house too far away from the
convent, and so managed to get a bed in a
baker's establishment just opposite.

Every morning we had the happiness of
assisting at two or four Masses ; for besides
the Director of the community, whose Mass
Edmund served, some French priests who
were attached to the ambulance also re-
quested permission to celebrate the Holy
Sacrifice. Reverend Mother arranged with
the Superioress that we might go to the chapel
when we liked to say our office, where —
instead of stalls — turning the chairs to face
each other, we improvised a choir, and
recited the Benedictine hours with the
usual ceremonies. We were, of course,
obliged to advance the night office, saying
vespers and compline at 2.30 and matins
and lauds at 4.0, it being often necessary
to bring the chairs close to the window to
have light to finish, if, as it sometimes
happened, we were unable to keep to the
given hours.

On Sunday afternoon, eleven nuns from
the Rue de Lille at Ypres came to beg a

109

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

refuge. They were expelled French nuns
of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who had
devoted themselves since the outbreak of
the war in our parts to tending the wounded
soldiers. It was they who had had such a
narrow escape when the Germans came to
Ypres, whilst they had their convent full
of Belgians. They told us afterwards how
good their wounded had been, and how
the greater part, as soon as they were well
enough, used to come to Benediction and
sing with the nuns.

Now, however, they brought sad news
from the town, which was being bom-
barded worse than ever. They had been
obliged to fly for their lives ; one Sister had
been killed by a bomb, a servant badly
wounded, and their Superioress had stopped
behind with two nuns, compelling the others
to leave. They had at first taken the wrong
road, going straight to the scene of battle ;
but being sent back by the British soldiers,
they had made their way, as best they could,
to Poperinghe. They had lost six of their
number, not knowing what had become of
them ; seventeen had left the convent, and
now only eleven had arrived at Poperinghe.

110

VISITING THE WOUNDED

The next day our servant-man came
round to say that he had received an invita-
tion to go back to Ypres the following day
with another man, who was willing to run the
risk of returning. Needless to say we were
delighted to have such a good chance of
getting news about our Monastery ; and
all prayed for his safety. We anxiously
awaited the result of this venture, hoping
that he would be able to get into the convent,
and that, above all, no harm would happen
to him. True enough, he came back in
triumph, dragging another huge parcel of
things he had managed to secure for himself.
The dreadful account he gave of the Mon-
astery filled us with despair, for, according
to his description, half the building seemed
to have been destroyed. Happily, the
person who had accompanied him called
the next day, and told us that Edmund had
greatly exaggerated the mischief done ; and
he hoped that if the Germans could be
repulsed, we should be able to return in four
or five days.

Mother Prioress determined to ascertain
the truth of the case for herself. She
accordingly made enquiries as to whether

111

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

it would be possible to go to Ypres in a
motor-car. M. Vander Meersch, a solicitor
who lived near the Abbey, came to
our help, and an officer was found
who was willing to take two nuns with
him. We begged our dear Prioress not
to expose herself to such evident danger ;
but, as usual, she would not listen, and it
was decided that Dame Placid should
accompany her. God, ^Vho ever protects
those who put their trust in Him, arranged
otherwise, and the motor-car was prevented
from leaving Poperinghe. We heard after-
wards that at the very time that they should
have arrived, a bomb had fallen on another
motor, and killed five officers.

During the next days, news poured
in from Ypres. At one time, we heard
that the Germans had been repulsed, and
their guns captured, and that Ypres
would soon be quite safe again ; shortly
afterwards, it was announced that the
enemy was mercilessly bombarding the town,
some houses were falling, others burning.
We were more than ever convinced that
we could believe nothing that we heard
and must necessarily see for ourselves.

112

VISITING THE WOUNDED

Besides, the guns which we had only-
heard feebly in the distance, on our arrival
at Poperinghe, could certainly be heard
far more distinctly now ; were we going
to be bombarded a second time ? It really
seemed probable, for German aeroplanes
appeared in sight, apparently scrutinising
the movements of the Allies, and had not
that been the beginning of the hostilities at
Ypres ?

In the streets, the regiments passed

and repassed — the poor, brave fellows

marching off to the battle, and the others

coming back from the trenches to have a

well-merited repose. It was often touching

to see how those who had not been ordered

out would await the return of the troops,

anxiously scanning the lines as they passed,

and on perceiving a comrade, perhaps a

' chum,' coming back unhurt, they would

run forward and give a hand-shake with a

joyful greeting, as the horses trotted by.

But alas ! there were always a number of

empty saddles, belonging to those who had

been taken to the ambulance, or — worse

still — left dead on the battle-field. The

horses themselves seemed mournful, as they

113 I

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

followed mechanically after the others, as
though they felt it must be partially their
fault that their dear masters were no longer
there. Often, also, numbers of German
prisoners would march past between two
files of British or French soldiers on their
way to the station.

Our poor wounded French soldiers were
not forgotten. By this time things were
arranged better; nearly all had beds now,
some even sheets. And this was due to
the unflagging devotion of three priests
attached to the ambulance as infirm-
arians. They certainly preached to us a
silent sermon of self-forgetfulness and
heroic charity ; and our greatest pleasure
was to hear them relate all they had gone
through since the War broke out. In the
French army alone, 40,000 priests mixed
with the common soldiers, the greater
number being combatants. The brave
wounded also gave us many a lesson, never
finding fault with anything, never com-
plaining of their dreadful wounds. And
yet how horribly some of them were muti-
lated ! A great number were obliged to
have an arm or leg amputated — one had

VISITING THE WOUNDED

his lower jaw carried away — another, his
whole face from below the eyes. Most of
them were wounded in the head, which
made them suffer dreadfully, some even
being delirious. There were some who
belonged to the highest aristocracy — Counts
and Barons were there, lying on straw or
hard stretchers; others again were quite
young, only twenty or twenty-one. Yet
all were patient, all courageous, all sure
that in the end the Allies would win, and
the Germans be defeated. The unfortunate
victims who died of their wounds were
carried out to a little hut or tent erected
in the garden. As we passed by, we would
lift up the curtain which hid them from
view, and say a ' De profundis ' for the repose
of their souls. Sometimes as many as eleven
or twelve lay there, awaiting the coffins
which could not be made quickly enough.
One poor Zouave, who had probably been
dead some time before it was found out,
lay there with his arms uplifted, as
though he still held the gun, with which
he would, even in death, lay low his
enemy.

But we cannot do better than take from

115 I 2

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

the notes of Dame Teresa, who was so
devoted in visiting the ambulance : —

' At Poperinghe we spent all our time
making badges of the Sacred Heart for the
wounded soldiers. Almost every day we
went to visit them. This gave us the greatest
joy. The first time we entered the large room
No. 1, where they lay, some on beds, others
on stretchers, we were struck with horror
and pity. There they were, young men
and middle-aged, from every department of
France ; some had been struck on the head,
others on the chest, back, or shoulders, or
else wounded in the legs. And yet not one
complaint escaped their lips — only one poor
fellow, who was delirious, called out as we
passed by : '' My head, my head ! oh, if
you only knew what it is to have such a
headache." Another soldier, just twenty-
one, said to us in the patois of the South of
France, " Franche ! Franche ! shall I ever
see thee again ! " We went from one room
to another, speaking to each, and cheering
them up. We gave them pears, and it
used to be our greatest pleasure to peel
them, cut them in small bits, and now

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VISITING THE WOUNDED

and again we would put them in their
mouths, when they were unable to move.
They were as simple as children, and loved
our visits. " Sister, you'll come back to-
morrow won't you ? It is so nice to see
you, it cheers us up ! " I remember one
incident, which shows their simplicity.
Dame Walburge and I had been going round,
distributing small bits of pear, which they
much relished as very comforting to their
parched lips ; but there came a time when
we had exhausted our last pear, and still
many soldiers had not had a bit. Of course
next day we would serve them the first ;
but Dame Walburge whispered to tell me
one poor fellow had been watching me so
anxiously for some time. I turned towards
him to say a little word of comfort, but he
interrupted me, saying in a fretful, childish
way : " Oh, Sister, and you have given
me no pear, and I wanted one so badly ! "
In vain we searched our pockets, all the
while promising he should be served the
first next day. He repeated : " It's to-night
I wanted it." We left the room sadly,
wishing, for once in our religious lives, that
we had a penny to buy him a pear. But

117

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

Almighty God, Who is all-powerful, heard
the prayer of His children ; for hardly had
I told this story to one of the nuns of La
Sainte Union, than she gave me a pear,
and though it was already dark, we ran
back joyfully to our poor wounded soldier,
who seemed dumb for joy, but his happy
face rewarded us beyond words.

* The unselfishness of the soldiers towards
each other was marvellous ; once, while
peeling a pear for a soldier — one who was
eating a piece of bread — he said to me :
" Sister, I am sure my neighbour would also
like a piece." I turned to the other, who
answered timidly : " Yes, I should like it ;
but see, Sister, I have a little bit of meat
on my bread, and he has none, so give it
to him ! " Needless to say, I divided it
between them.

* Sometimes they would give us a little
money out of their purses to buy biscuits,
or cheese, or, as they said, '' something to
eat." One Zouave asked us to buy him a
pair of socks.

' At this French Ambulance we also had
the joy of making the acquaintance of three
soldier-priests, who daily said Mass at the

118

VISITING THE WOUNDED

convent, thus giving us the happiness of
sometimes hearing five Masses a day. I do
not quite remember the names of the priests.
I think one was called M. I'Abbe Tecq,
another M. I'Abbe Couq of Dijon, and the
third was M. I'Abbe Louis Charbonnel of
Avignon. This latter was very fond of
Benedictines, and gave us a special blessing
before leaving, assuring us that we should
immediately feel " at home " among our
Sisters at Oulton.

' These priests were more than devoted
to the soldiers, administering the last sacra-
ments, and bringing Holy Communion to
them, no matter at what time of the day. The
little badges of the Sacred Heart also did
their work ; all the soldiers asked to have
them, and insisted on our pinning them
ourselves on their clothes ; the priests wore
them, and distributed hundreds, so that we
could scarcely keep pace with their fervour,
except by working at them every free minute
we had. Some of the infirmarians even
asked to have a few to send away in their
letters.

' They wrought many conversions — the
soldiers all wanted to have them.'

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THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

Again there was dreadful news from
Ypres. The hospital was entirely destroyed.
The British soldiers had gone with their
motor-cars to take away the four nuns, who
still risked their lives by staying to tend the
poor victims, who were daily struck down in
or about the town. Four other nuns had
been kiUed in their cellar. A priest carrying
the holy oils to a dying person had been
struck down in the street. The Germans
had even made new bombs, bigger and
more destructive than those used before.
What should we do ? Would it not be
wiser to accept Lady Abbess of Oulton's
kind invitation, and go straight on to
England while there was yet time ? But
our Abbey ! Why leave it, if we could
possibly return ?

We found ourselves surrounded at Poper-
inghe by every attention which charity could
suggest ; and although the community of
La Sainte Union had often the greatest
difficulty to provide for the increased number
of fugitives, there being two other com-
munities as well as ourselves, still we re-
ceived everything that was possible in the
circumstances. However, as the officer in

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VISITING THE WOUNDED

charge of the ambulance demanded one
thing after another for his soldiers, he
came at last to claim the room which had
been placed at our disposal. The Superioress
was obliged to yield, and the ' chef ' soon
established the supplies of food in what
had been our refectory. We were now
forced to take possession of the nuns' refec-
tory, going to our meals before or after
theirs. We thus found ourselves at table not
only with the two other communities above
mentioned, but also with the servants of one
of our old pupils, who were also stopping in
the convent to help at the ambulance. We
managed as best we could, and still kept up
our tradition of entering in procession,
saying the ' De profundis,' and then reciting
the Benedictine grace before and after meals.
This was not all. There was a door at one
end, which led into the room given up to the
soldiers ; consequently, at any moment, one
would appear in the refectory to fetch
a loaf of bread, or some meat, &c., and
then repass again on his way out. Once,
when a priest came, Mother Prioress gave
him a pear, as also to the soldier who came
after him ; but soon the Superioress put

121

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

up a large screen, which enabled them to
enter without disturbing the community.
They had a very hard life. Often we saw
their shadows through the mat glass as they
stood at the windows, eating their dinners
in the rain and snow.

And now Our Lord was preparing a
cross which we had not counted on, and
which added to the grief that already
weighed down our hearts. Our poor dear
Dame Josephine, already fifty-two years
professed, now left us. Feeble and infirm,
the shock had been too much for her. The
want of good nourishment had also told on
her — she was soon obliged to keep her bed,
having caught cold. The doctor, on seeing
her, declared the case dangerous, and
proposed that she should receive the last
sacraments. This took place on Friday,
November 13, Feast of all the Saints of the
Benedictine Order. Alas ! we little expected
that another one would so soon increase
their happy company. Saturday, our dear
patient seemed to rally a little, and none of
us believed the infirmarian, when, in the
evening, she told us she was dying. How-
ever, Mother Prioress remained some time

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VISITING THE WOUNDED

alone with Dame Josephine, helping her
to renew her vows, and offer up holy aspira-
tions. She herself did not think she was
so bad ; but, always ready to obey, she
followed the prayers suggested by her whom
she had known when she had been Sister
Maura — a lively, fervent, eighteen-year-old
postulant, and whom she had always cared
for as a mother. Now that her dearly-
loved little novice had grown into her
Superioress, she submitted herself with child-
like simplicity, asking her blessing morning
and evening, thus edifying greatly the whole
community. She therefore now made, when
Dame Maura proposed it, her act of resigna-
tion, should God demand the sacrifice of
her life.

Two of us offered to divide the night
between us to watch by her bedside. After
1 A.M. she slept a little, though her breathing
was difficult. At 2.30 she awoke, and seemed
rather restless. Before going down in the
morning, Mother Prioress paid Dame Jose-
phine another visit ; but we could no longer
distinguish what she said. We replaced
each other during the Masses ; but about
7.30 everyone was called out of church,

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THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

there being now no more doubt. The
Superioress of the house knelt with Mother
Prioress close by the bed, and several nuns
of both communities joined their prayers
to ours, during which our dearest jubilarian
breathed forth her innocent soul. It was
the Feast of the Dedication of the Churches.
Our Lord had chosen the day Himself,
for had she not passed her whole religious
life in the service of the altar as sacristine ?
And by a curious coincidence, in which we
may again detect the loving attention of
the Divine Master, the burial, settled at first
for Tuesday, was put off till Wednesday,
Feast of the Dedication of Saint Peter and
Saint Paul. Sad at any time, the loss of our
dear Dame Josephine now appeared doubly
so — in exile, and in the midst of so many
other trials. She had truly ' chosen the
better part,' and we felt a sort of relief to
know that she had been spared the horrors
which we should, in all probability, live
to see. Every one showed us the kindest
sympathy in our loss. Dame Aloysius and
Dame Columban performed the last duties
to the dear departed one, and laid her
out in the same little parlour where she

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VISITING THE WOUNDED

had come to welcome us, just nine days
before, on the evening of our arrival.
Every one came to pray by her corpse,
all the nuns, the chaplain, even several of
our old pupils, who, having taken refuge
in Poperinghe, heard of our sad loss — and
last of all, poor old Edmund who for a
moment forgot his own troubles to grieve
over dear Dame Josephine whom, like
everyone else, he had esteemed and respected.
Each, as they left the little room, where
such a peaceful silence reigned, declared
they had never before seen such a holy
and happy death.

Thanks to the intervention of M. Vander
Meersch, already mentioned, and who was
a personal friend of the burgomaster of
Poperinghe, Mother Prioress obtained per-
mission to place the dead body, having
previously secured it in a double coffin,
in a private vault in the cemetery ; so that
if — which God grant — we are able to rebuild
our Monastery at Ypres, we shall then lay
dear Dame Josephine with her other religious
Sisters.

We recited the Office of the Dead round
the holy remains, in the convent chapel,

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THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

and sang the Requiem Mass at the funeral.
This latter should have really taken place
in the parish church, but the Cure, kindly
sympathising with our numerous trials, offered
to perform it at the convent so that we
should be thus enabled to keep our enclosure
as much as possible. We sang the Mass
(at which all attended) with great devotion,
in spite of the severe colds we had all caught.
At the moment of consecration, when, in
deepest recollection, we adored ' Our Lord
and our God,' Who thus deigned to come
down from Heaven among His sorrowing
children, the well-known hiss of a descending
bomb made itself heard, and in the same
moment a formidable explosion took place
quite close to us. The Holy Sacrifice
continued without interruption. It was only
afterwards we heard that the Germans
had aimed at the ambulance established,
as has been said, in La Sainte Union.
Missing us by a few yards only, the bomb
had struck the house next door, doing,
however, but little damage. Four girls of
the Congregation of Our Blessed Lady carried
the coffin to the cemetery, while the nuns
of the house accompanied our community.

126

VISITING THE WOUNDED

The sad little procession wound its way
along the muddy streets, amidst troops of
civilians and soldiers. Nearly all saluted
as it passed. The prayers being sung at
the grave, the coffin was deposited in the
vault, and we returned silently, stopping
to recite ' De profundis ' at the little portion
of ground allotted to the dead nuns of La
Sainte Union.

127

CHAPTER VIII

AN ATTEMPT TO REVISIT YPRES

When we arrived at the convent, we
found that a soldier had called to say that
a motor-car would be starting for Ypres
at 4.30, but which would not return until
the next day. We felt hardly inclined to
accept the invitation, but dared not miss
the opportunity which would perhaps not
present itself a second time. Mother Prioress
and Dame Placid decided to go, and to
pass the night in the abbey and come
back the following day in the motor. We
were all so anxious at the idea that two of
us, viz. Dame Columban and Dame Patrick,
offered to go on foot to be able to help in
case of danger. The narrative will be con-
tinued from the notes of Dame Columban
and Dame Patrick : —

' We set off at 2.30 as we should, of course,

128

AN ATTEMPT TO REVISIT YPRES

take longer than the^^'motor. Two of the
servants of Madame Boone, who were also
in the convent, accompanied us, to be able
to see in what state her house was. At their
suggestion we decided to follow the railway
line, instead of going by the high road ;
and thus we were spared the dreadful
mud and constant traffic we should other-
wise have had. On our way we met many
poor people who were flying from Ypres;
for the Germans were still shelling it. They
tried their best to dissuade us from our
purpose, depicting in vivid colours the great
danger we were incurring — we, however,
continued on our way. Several aeroplanes
passed overhead, one of which received a
volley of shots, so we knew it must have
been an enemy. Sad to say, it escaped
untouched. As we advanced we heard
the sound of the guns louder and louder,
till at last we found ourselves once again
in the noise and confusion we had left
a week and a half ago. Our hearts beat
faster as we began to distinguish in the
distance the tower of St. Martin's and of
the Hall ; and we hastened our steps,
wondering if the motor-car, which was to

129 ^

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

bring Mother Prioress and Dame Placid,
were already there, and making plans as
to what we should do for the night. The
fugitives had told us that the Germans
were principally shelling the station, so we
determined to go round the town, and
come in by the Porte de Menin which
would bring us immediately to the Abbey.
As we were thus settling everything in
advance, we came to where the railway
lines pass over the high road, and were
about to continue by the latter, when a
French policeman suddenly stopped us,
asking where we were going. We bravely
replied, " To Ypres ! " What was our dismay
when he politely informed us he was for-
bidden to allow anyone to enter the town.
In vain we expostulated, saying how far
we had come, that we only desired to see
our Monastery once again, that it was quite
impossible to walk back to Poperinghe
that night. It was all useless. As we
spoke, some poor persons endeavoured also
to pass, but were sent back. We then
asked the officer if he had seen a motor-car
with two nuns in it. He replied in the
negative, but promised to stop them should

130

AN ATTEMPT TO REVISIT YPRES

they pass. He tried to mend matters by
explaining that he was obhged to obey
orders, and that it was to prevent deserted
houses being broken into and robbed that
persons were not allowed to enter the town.
*' For," he said, ''people pass by empty-
handed in the morning, saying they want to
see if their houses are still standing ; they
come back in the evening loaded with things ;
is it their own belongings they have, or
some one else's ? " This, however, did not
console us, and we turned our steps dis-
consolately towards Poperinghe.

' It was nearly six o'clock. The cold wind
beat pitilessly in our faces, for it was freezing
hard. The stars were shining, but there
was no moon, so the road was dark. Should
we ever reach Poperinghe again ? What
if Mother Prioress and Dame Placid were
waiting for us at the Abbey ? They would
assuredly think we were killed ! , . . We
walked slowly on, debating what was to
be done. At last we decided to try to
find a lodging for the night, and get into
Ypres the first thing in the morning. We
stopped at the first group of houses which
came in sight. What was our joy to see

181 k2

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

a motor outside. Perhaps we could get a
ride home. We addressed ourselves to
the French soldier who was standing by,
and asked if by chance he was going to
Poperinghe that night. " Yes ! " was the
rather laconic reply. ** And would it be
possible to take us also ? " That was another
thing. We must wait for the officer, who
would be back, perhaps, in half an hour,
perhaps later. Then, as if to excuse his
apparent unwillingness, the soldier told us
they were strictly forbidden, under pain
of thirty days' imprisonment, to take any-
one in the motors, as it had been discovered
that German spies had been acting as
chauffeurs to several French officers. Did
we look like German spies ? Be that
as it may, it was not inviting to think
of waiting in the cold for half an hour or
more, and then meeting with a probable
refusal. We consequently returned to our
first idea of getting a night's lodging. We
knocked at the first door, but found the
house full of French soldiers. We went
farther on, and, through a window, saw
some English '' Tommies " seated round the
fire with the members of the family. This

162

AN ATTEMPT TO REVISIT YPRES

looked more inviting. We pushed the door
open (there being no sign of a bell or knocker),
and at our enquiry, were told that the
house was full, there being four officers
lodging there, as well as the private soldiers.
We asked if it would be possible to
speak to an officer, and were requested to
step inside. Our visit being announced,
a cheery voice called out, " Entrez, mes
Soeurs, entrez ! " We entered the little room,
and found ourselves in presence of four
officers, who were actually engaged in making
their tea, and who were more than delighted
on learning our nationality. They were
very interested in our story, and pressed
us to take tea with them. We thanked
them for their kindness, but refused, not
wishing to deprive them of what they so
well deserved. Two of them next offered to
go in search of some means of conveying us
back to Poperinghe, as we were not likely
to find a lodging anywhere. They were
also sure that the officer had never left
with Mother Prioress, for — as one of them
remarked — " Ypres is a very unhealthy
place for the moment." After some time,
the two returned, saying they had found

133

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

a French vehicle, which would conduct us

to within a mile of Poperinghe. So, thanking

our kind hosts, we followed our two guides

to the place where the carriage (if so we

may call it, it being rather a closed cart,

drawn by mules) was standing. The soldiers

were busy unloading it. As we were talking,

two lights appeared in the distance, which

rapidly grew bigger and brighter, as a

motor-car dashed past us. The two officers

soon chased it, calling on the driver to

stop. He accordingly slowed down, and

we learned, to our great delight, that the

officer (an English one this time) would take

us straight to Poperinghe. We were soon

spinning along the road, leaving Vlamer-

tinghe, houses, carts, horses, soldiers, far

behind us ; and in a good quarter of an hour,

we stopped at the door of La Sainte Union.

We begged our kind benefactor to accept

something for our drive ; but he refused,

saying he was only too pleased to have

been able to render us this little service.

As soon as we were safe inside, we were

surrounded, all asking what had happened

to us, for everyone had been more than

anxious on our account, owing to the

134

AN ATTEMPT TO REVISIT YPRES

alarming news which was brought from
Ypres. We related our adventures in a
few words, and then had to go quickly
upstairs to show ourselves to dear Lady
Abbess, who was greatly troubled over our
absence, and enquired constantly if we had
yet arrived.

' In our turn we now desired to know

what had happened to Mother Prioress

and Dame Placid, so, during recreation,

which we shared with the other nuns,

refugees like ourselves, we heard of their

doings. After going out in search of the

officer who was to take them to Ypres,

and waiting in the rain and cold, the soldier

who had called in the morning found them

and said the captain had been delayed,

and would not leave before 4 or 4.30. They

had then returned to the convent and set out

once again, this time taking the key of the

Abbey, which they had previously forgotten.

Arrived in the market square, they saw

a long row of motors drawn up, with

soldiers busy taking off the cakes of mud

and mire which literally covered them.

In vain they looked for their driver. At

this moment a regiment of Chasseurs

135

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

Fran9ais rode up four abreast. They had
hardly gone when the Dragoons, with their
uniform of pale blue and silver, galloped
past also. This state of things lasted almost
an hour. The captain not yet making
any appearance, they had gone in quest
of something to take with them to eat,
in case no food should be found in Ypres.
By a strange coincidence, on entering the
shop, they were accosted by the manageress
of one of the hotels of Ypres, who im-
mediately recognised them. At last, on
coming once more out into the square, the
soldier met them again, saying that the
bombardment was raging so fiercely that
there was no question of leaving Poperinghe
that afternoon. It was useless to think of
sending after us, so every one had remained
in the greatest anxiety until our return.'

136

CHAPTER IX

PREPARING TO START FOR ENGLAND

Reverend Mother, despairing of getting
into Ypres, was now determined to leave
Poperinghe and go to England; but again
the question presented itself — How were we
to get there ? As the English officers had
been so kind to us in our efforts to get to
Ypres on the previous evening, she thought
that perhaps they would help us also for
the journey. Dame Teresa offered to accom-
pany her, as, being the niece of Mr. Redmond,
it was felt she might be specially useful.
So, accompanied by Dame Columban and
Dame Patrick, Mother Prioress set out to
try to find the officer who had given them
seats in his motor the day before. He had
said he belonged to the aeroplane encamp-
ment, which we knew to be just outside
the town. Meeting an English soldier, we
asked him to be so kind as to show us the

137

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

way. On hearing our story, he advised us
to apply rather to another officer, who
would be better able to help us, and directed
us to the convent where this officer was
staying. The convent proved to be that of
the Penitents of St. Francis, where we
received a warm welcome, and were intro-
duced to two nuns from the Hospice of Ypres
who had taken refuge there. The captain
in question was not in ; so the nuns insisted
on our seeing their lovely little church and
sacristy, after which they found a soldier
who conducted us to the British Head-
quarters which were then actually at Poper-
inghe. There we were received with the
greatest courtesy by Captain Liddell who
promised to do everything in his power to
help us, but advised us, at the same time,
to apply to Commandant Delporte, of the
Belgian Constabulary, who would be better
able than he to find a train to convey us
to Dunkerque or Boulogne.

We thanked the captain, and left to find
the Belgian police station. Having been
directed several different ways, we eventually
arrived at our destination, and were received
by an official who promised to acquaint the

138

PREPARING TO START FOR ENGLAND

Commandant with the reason ofour visit as
soon as he should return, he being absent at
the moment. We were about to leave, when
the door opened and M. le Commandant
Delporte entered, and after courteously salut-
ing us, he begged us to take seats, and showed
the greatest interest in all that Mother
Prioress related. He then said that a train
of refugees had left only the day before, and
he could not tell us when another would
start. He referred us again to the general
staff, saying that, as we were British subjects,
they ought certainly to take us either in their
ambulance cars or in a train for the wounded
on account of Our Lady Abbess who was para-
lysed, adding that he would speak in our
favour. We therefore turned our steps once
more to where we had come from, and having
made known the result of our visit, we were
told to return the next day at 1.30 p.m., before
which time Captain Liddell would consult
the Chief Medical Officer, and see what could
be done for us. We then took the road back
to the convent, where we were glad to find a
warm shelter.

The next day was Friday. Captain
Liddell had promised to call on us, should

139

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

anything be decided before 1.30. The town
was, however, suddenly thrown into a state
of excitement by the passing of a German
Taube which dropped a bomb on St. Bertin's
Church. Fortunately it only slightly injured
the porch, though it wounded several persons
standing by. Amongst the injured was the
chaplain of La Sainte Union, whose hand
was hurt. We were next informed that the
British Headquarters had left the town.
What then would become of the arrange-
ments for our journey to England ? Im-
mediately Dame Columban and Dame
Patrick offered to go and see if any message
had been left for us, poor Mother Prioress
being unwell, and therefore not able to go
herself. The narrative is again continued
from the notes of Dame Columban and Dame
Patrick : —

'Having received Mother Prioress' blessing,
we started off, wondering what we should find,
perhaps an empty house ? On our way we
passed St. Bertin's Church, where a group of
persons were gathered, watching French
soldiers clearing the road of the remains of
bricks, stones, glass, which were strewn

140

PREPARING TO START FOR ENGLAND

about. Every window in the whole street
was broken. Hastening our steps we were
soon in presence of Captain Liddell, to whom
we apologised for our early call, relating
what we had heard. He said that the staff
had no intention of leaving as yet, that as to
our journey it would take several days to
arrange, for different persons would have to
be consulted. The situation did not seem
very satisfactory, so, on taking our leave, we
determined to have recourse once more to
the Belgian authorities. Just as we arrived
in sight of the building, to our great disap-
pointment, we saw the Commandant leaving
in company with two British officers. We
immediately drew back, but, recognising us,
he came forward, all three officers giving a
military salute. We begged him not to stop
for us, saying that we would call again,
but he insisted on bringing us into the house,
telling the officers he would rejoin them
shortly. We stated, as briefly as possible,
the unsatisfactory result of our visit to the
English Headquarters, and asked what was
the best thing to do. He told us that there
was a train leaving the next day at 2.30
P.M., but that in all probability we should

141

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

not enjoy the company. We, of course,
declared that this did not matter. How-
ever, he told us to decide nothing as yet,
saying he himself would go to arrange with
the British officers, and would call on Mother
Prioress next morning. We thanked him
profusely, and once more turned our steps
towards La Sainte Union to acquaint
Reverend Mother with the result of our
negotiations.'

142

CHAPTER X

A SECOND ATTEMPT TO REVISIT YPRES

Were we, then, to leave Belgium without
seeing our beloved monastery again ? The
thought was too dreadful. This time Dame
Placid begged to be allowed to venture back,
and asked Dame Columban and Dame
Patrick if they would go with her. They at
once agreed ; and having begged a blessing
from Mother Prioress, started off, accom-
panied by the two servants of Madame Boone,
poor Mother Prioress being still unwell and
quite unable to accompany them, to her
great disappointment. Dame Columban and
Dame Patrick will again tell the story.

'We were now determined to succeed —
it was our last chance.

* We had not gone far, when the whirr of
an aeroplane was heard overhead. It flew
too low to be an enemy, so we wished it

143

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

good-speed, and passed on. Shortly after,
some fugitives met us, who, seeing the direc-
tion we were taking, stared aghast, and told
us that the Germans were bombarding Ypres
worse than ever. Should we turn back ?
Oh no ! it was our last chance. We continued
bravely. Soon, others stopped us with the
same story, but, turning a deaf ear to the
horrors they related, we pushed on. Over
an hour had passed, when, after a brisk walk,
Vlamertinghe came in sight. More than
half our journey was accomplished. Just
as we approached the railway station (we
had again taken the railway track) we heard
the whirr of an aeroplane, then a volley of
shots flew up towards the aeroplane. We
knew what that meant. We could see the
shots of the Allies bursting in the air, some
near the Taube, some far away ; alas ! none hit
it. What should we do ? We determined
to risk it ; and passing under Taube, bombs,
shots, and all, we hastened through the
railway station — soldiers, men, women and
children staring at " these strange Benedictine
nuns ! "

' Hurrying on, we met two priests coming
from Ypres. We stopped to ask advice.

144

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A SECOND ATTEMPT TO REVISIT YPRES

They told us that our undertaking was
decidedly dangerous. There was hardly a
person left in the town ; they had gone in
in the morning to see if they could be of
any use, and were now leaving, not daring
to stop the night. They told us that there
was still one priest who remained in the
establishment of the mad people, just out-
side Ypres, and that we could always call
on him, if we could not manage to reach
our convent ; but they added that he also
was leaving the next day with all his poor
proteges. We made up our minds to risk
all ; so, asking the priests' blessing, we
went our way. Other people tried in
vain to make us turn back, especially
two men who assured us we should never
be able to accomplish our project. We
thanked them for the interest they showed
in our behalf, and asked them if they would
be so kind as to call at the convent at
Poperinghe and tell Mother Prioress not
to be anxious if we did not return that
night, and not to expect us till the next
day. We were now approaching the cross-
roads which had proved so fatal on
Wednesday. A Belgian officer on a bicycle

145 !•

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

stopped to ask where we were going. We
told him. He said it was simple madness
to think of doing such a thing. He had
been with his soldiers trying to mend the
roads a little farther on, and had been
obliged to leave off on account of the shells
which were flying in all directions. We
thanked him, but said we would risk it all
the same. Arriving on the high road, we
soon found ourselves in presence of a French
policeman who asked where we were going.
** To Ypres ! " was the determined reply.
" No one can pass. You must go back."
What were we to do ? We determined to
go on. Were there no means of getting in
by another way ? While we stood as though
rooted to the ground, we caught sight of
a French Chasseur on the other side of
the road, who seemed to have some authority,
and who was trying to console a woman
and two weeping children. We immediately
applied to him, and told him our distress.
He answered kindly, but told us, all the
same, that he was afraid we should not be
able to enter Ypres. We begged to be
allowed to continue, if only to try. He
smiled and said : "If you really wish it,

146

A SECOND ATTEMPT TO REVISIT YPRES

then pass on." And on his writing down a
passport, we went on triumphantly. It
seemed as though God were helping us.

*We had been so taken up with all
that had passed that we had thought of
nothing else, but now that we were in
sight of the goal we realised that it was
freezing hard. The stars were shining
brightly, from time to time a light flashed
in the distance, then a sinister whirr,
followed by an explosion, which told us
that the Germans w^ere not going to let
us pass as easily as did the French Chasseur.
Wondering as to how we should succeed,
we came across an English sentinel, and
so asked his advice. He told us that he
thought there was no chance whatever of
our getting into the town. He said that he
himself had been obliged to abandon his
post on account of the shells, that the
troops in the town had been ordered to
leave, and that those coming in had been
stopped. (We now remembered having seen
a regiment of French soldiers setting out
from Poperinghe at the same time as we
had done, and then they were suddenly
stopped, while we went on and saw them

147 1.2

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

no more.) Despite what the sentinel told
us, we remained unpersuaded. Seeing several
soldiers going in and out of a house just
opposite, we thought it would be as well
to ask a temporary shelter till the bombard-
ment should lessen. We ventured to ask
admission, when what was our surprise to
receive the warmest of welcomes and the
kindest offers of hospitality. We could not
have found a better spot. The family was
thoroughly Christian ; and, in this time of
distress, the door of the house stood open
day and night for all who were in need.
How much more for nuns, and more especially
enclosed nuns like ourselves ! They had
seen us passing on our way to Poperinghe,
just a fortnight before, and had accompanied
our wanderings with a prayer. A few days
ago they had also given refreshment to
the Poor Clares who had taken refuge at
Vlamertinghe ; and now their only desire
was that God would spare their little house,
that they might continue their deeds of
mercy and true charity. To give us pleasure,
they introduced an Irish gentleman who
was stopping with them, since the Germans
had chased him out of Courtrai. A lively

148

A SECOND ATTEMPT TO REVISIT YPRES

conversation soon began, while the good
woman of the house prepared us a cup of
hot coffee and some bread and butter.
After this, the Irish gentleman, whose name
was Mr. Walker, went out to investigate,
to see if it would not be possible for us to
continue our walk. After about half an
hour's absence, during which we were enter-
tained by our host (M. Vanderghote, 10
Chaussee de Poperinghe, Ypres), who made
his five children and two nieces come in
to say good-night to us before going to bed,
Mr. Walker returned, saying it was a sheer
impossibility to enter the town that evening,
as the shells were falling at the rate of
two every three minutes. He had called
on M. I'Abbe Neuville, the priest above
mentioned, Director of the Asylum, who
said he would give us beds for the night,
and then we could assist at his Mass at
6.30 next morning. The latter part of the
proposition we gladly accepted ; but as
to the first, we were afraid of abusing his
goodness, and preferred, if our first bene-
factor would consent, to remain where we
were until morning. Our host was only
too pleased, being sorry that he could not

I4d

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

provide us with beds. He then forced us
to accept a good plate of warm butter-milk ;
after which, provided with blankets and
shawls, we made ourselves as comfortable
as we could for the night. Needless to say,
we did not sleep very well and were enter-
tained, till early morning, with explosions
of bombs and shells, and the replying
fire of the Allies' guns. Once a vigorous
rattling of the door-handle aroused us, but
we were soon reassured by hearing M.
Vanderghote inviting the poor half-frozen
soldier, who had thus disturbed us, to go
to the kitchen to take something warm.
Before 6, we began to move, and performed
our ablutions as best we could. The eldest
son of the family now came to fetch us,
to show us the way to the church of the
asylum, where we had the happiness of
hearing Holy Mass and receiving Holy Com-
munion. When Mass was over we wound our
way once more through the dimly-lit cloisters
of the asylum, while we could not help
smiling at the apparent appropriateness of
the place we had chosen with the foolhardy
act we were undertaking — of risking our
lives in thus entering a town which even

150

A SECOND ATTEMPT TO REVISIT YPRES

our brave troops had been obliged to
evacuate.

' Once outside the asylum, we found Mr.
Walker waiting for us, with the eldest
daughter and three sons of M. Vanderghote,
who were pushing a hand-cart. We set off
at a brisk pace along the frozen road.
Passing by a few French soldiers, who
looked amazed at our apparition, we soon
entered the doomed town. There, a truly
heart-breaking sight awaited us. Broken-
down houses, whose tottering walls showed
remains of what had once been spacious
rooms — buildings, half-demolished, half-erect,
— met our wondering gaze everywhere.
Windows, shattered in a thousand pieces,
covered the ground where we walked ; while,
in the empty casements, imagination pictured
the faces of hundreds of starving, homeless
poor, whose emaciated features seemed to
cry to heaven for vengeance on the
heartless invaders of their peaceful native
land.

' But we durst not stop ; the thought ever
uppermost in our hearts was our own beloved
Abbey. How should we find it ? We pushed
on as quickly as we could, but the loose

151

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

stones, bricks, beams and glass made walking
a difficult matter, and twice, having passed
half-way down a street, we were obliged to
retrace our steps, owing to the road being
entirely blocked by overthrown buildings.
Here and there, we saw some poor creature
looking half -frightened, half-amazed at seeing
us, while suddenly turning a corner we came
to a pool of frozen water, where three street
boys were amusing themselves sliding on the
ice. Their mirth seemed almost blameful
among so many trophies of human misery !
We now came in sight of St. Peter's
Church, which at first glance appeared
untouched ; but coming round, past the
calvary, we saw that the porch had been
struck.

' One moment more, and we were in La
Rue St. Jacques — ^nay, in front of our dear
old home. The pavements were covered
with debris of all kinds, but the other build-
ings had largely contributed to the pile.
We hardly dared to raise our eyes ; yet the
Monastery was there as before, seemingly
untouched, save for the garrets over the
nuns' cells, where the shell had burst before
we had left. We were now greeted by a

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A SECOND ATTEMPT TO REVISIT YPRES

familiar voice, and looking round found the
poor girl, Helene, who was anxiously enquir-
ing if we were returning to the convent.
But there was no time to waste. The
Germans, who had stopped bombarding
Ypres at about 3 a.m., might recommence at
any moment, and then we should have to
fly ; so we went to the door of the Director's
house to try to get into the Abbey. What
was our astonishment to find Oscar, our
old servant-man, there. Probably he was
still more astonished than we, for he had
never dared to come to the convent since he
had left, and would surely feel, at the least,
uncomfortable at our unexpected arrival.
However, it was certainly not the moment
to think of all these things, so we went in.
The whole building seemed but one ruin.
In the drawing-room, where the priest's
breakfast things — laid a fortnight before —
were still on the table, the ceiling was literally
on the floor ; the staircase was quite blocked
with cement, mortar, wall-paper, and bricks ;
the sacristy, where we were assembled when
the first shell fell, was untouched. The
church, except for some five or six holes in
the roof, was as we left it ; but the altar,

153

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

stripped of all that had once made it so dear
to us, spoke volumes to our aching hearts.
Mounting the seven steps which led into
the choir, we found ourselves once more in
that beloved spot. The windows on the
street side were in atoms ; otherwise, all was
intact. Our dearest Lord had watched over
His House, His Royal State Chamber, where
He was always ready to hold audience with
His Beloved Spouses. We tore ourselves
away, and flew to secure our breviaries, great-
habits, and other things which the other nuns
had recommended to us. Everywhere we
went, dust and dirt covered the rooms, while
a great many windows were broken. The
statues of Our Blessed Lady and St. Joseph
were unharmed, as also those of Our Holy
Father St. Benedict and our Holy Mother
St. Scholastica. Little Jesus of Prague
had His crown at His feet, instead of on
His head ; one crucifix was broken in two !
The cells were almost quite destroyed, big
holes in the ceilings, the windows broken,
the plaster down, frozen pools of water on
the floor. We hastened to the garrets, where
things were still worse. The roof in this
part was completely carried away, leaving

154

A SECOND ATTEMPT TO REVISIT YPRES

full^entrance to hail, snow, and rain ; strong
rafters and beams, which seemed made to
last unshaken till the end of the world, were
rent asunder or thrown on the floor ; the
huge iron weights of the big clock had rolled
to the other end of the garrets ; the scene of
destruction seemed complete. We turned
away ; the other part looked secure, the apples
and pears lying rotting away on the floors,
where we had put them to ripen. In the
noviceship, the ceiling was greatly damaged ;
whilst down in the cloisters, by the grotto
of our Lady of Lourdes, a bomb had
perforated the roof, the grotto remaining
untouched. These seemed to be the prin-
cipal effects of the invaders' cruelty, as far
as our Abbey was concerned.

' We now came across our old carpenter,
who had also come into the house with
Oscar, and who had already put up
planks on the broken windows in the choir,
promising to do all he could to preserve
the building. He also told us that one of the
biggest German bombs had fallen in the
garden, but had not exploded, so the French
police had been able to take it away —
another mark of God's loving care over

155

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

us ; for, had the bomb burst, it would have
utterly destroyed our Monastery. We were
now obliged to leave. When should we
see the dear old spot again ? and in
what state would it be if we ever did
return ? '

156

CHAPTER XI

THE RETURN JOURNEY TO POPERINGHE

' The hand-cart being overloaded, we had to
carry some of the things ourselves ; and we
must have looked a strange sight, carrying
books and clothes, stuffed in white pillow-
cases— even Mr. Walker had one, which he
hoisted on his shoulder. We did not trouble
about this, but silently made our way back,
through the deserted streets. We left the
town by a different way from that by which
we had entered it, as a sinister boom from
the station warned us of the presence of the
enemy. Our road took us this time through
the Grand' Place. The whole back part of
the hospital was destroyed ; and although the
walls of the fa9ade were still standing, one
could see, through the empty windows, that
the interior was almost entirely demolished.
The Cloth Hall, also, had not been spared,
one corner being severely damaged, and the

157

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

greater number of the statues maimed and
mutilated. If it could have remained so,
there might have been some consolation ;
but now everyone knows the ruthless bar-
barity which has prompted the Huns of
the twentieth century to utterly destroy this
wonderful monument of medieval architec-
ture, of which Ypres had been so justly
proud during hundreds of years. It appears
that the belfry, the chimes of which were only
surpassed by those of Bruges and Antwerp,
was struck just twenty-four hours after we
had passed it on our exit from the town.
St. Martin's, too, had also been struck. We
would, nevertheless, have entered, but Mr.
Walker was afraid to let us prolong our
stay, as the shells were already flying over
us. Our thoughts naturally turned to the
much revered and esteemed M. le Doyen,
who, victim of his heroic courage, had
remained at his post to the last, tending
the wounded, and even helping to extinguish
the fires which the incendiary bombs caused
in so many places ; till at last, seeing
the interior of his beloved church already
in flames, he had fallen, struck down
by a cerebral congestion, and had been

158

THE RETURN JOURNEY TO POPERINGHE

carried to the Dean of Poperinghe in the
ambulance car. (Since, we have heard that
he is better, D. G., one of our old pupils
having seen him in the church at Poperinghe.)

'On emerging from the town, a little
incident occurred.

* We came up with a British cavalry regi-
ment. They were coming from the trenches.
They looked at us and shouted : " Who are
you, Sisters, and where do you come from ? "
Dame Columban answered : " We are Eng-
lish nuns from the Benedictine Convent of
the Rue St. Jacques," This was too much
for Dame Patrick, who called out : *' We are
no such thing. We are Irish Benedictines ! "
" Irish ! " shouted half a dozen of them,
** and so are we," and they all began singing,
" It's a long way to Tipperary," and, thus
escorted, we took a long, last look at the dear
old town. Needless to say, it was an Irish
regiment — every man wore the harp and
shamrock on his collar and cap.

' We soon arrived at the house where we
had taken refuge during the night, and were
not sorry to have a good cup of coffee and
some bread and butter and jam. Mr.
Walker had told us of some of his

159

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

experiences, among which was the burning
of Madame la Baronne Coppens' house,
this lady being the mother of one of our
former pupils. M. Vanderghote's eldest
son had been left in charge of their house,
sleeping in the cellar at night. On one
occasion when the bombardment was raging
fiercely, Mr. Walker had offered to accom-
pany him. They kept watch in turns. As
Mr. Walker was sleeping, the son woke him
suddenly crying out, '' Quick ! get up ! the
house is on fire ! " Half -dazed, he had seized
hold of his candlestick and followed the
son to the door. All was in flames. They
turned back, half-stifled with the smoke,
but could find no exit. At last they managed
to break the glass of the window, and jump-
ing out, just escaped from the place as, with
a loud crash, the roof fell in. Mr. Walker
had his candlestick still in his hand, which he
showed us among pieces of shrapnel and
shells, all souvenirs of the war. They had
also saved the dog, which was slightly burnt.
' We now hurried the preparations for our
departure, as time was passing quickly,
and we had still a long walk before us. Our
kind host accompanied us as far as the

160

THE RETURN JOURNEY TO POPERINGHE

cross-roads where the French pohce mounted
guard, for he was not allowed farther. By
a strange coincidence we met once more the
Belgian officer who had seen us the evening
before. He was more than astonished at
what we had done, and was very pleased that
all had succeeded so well. We thanked
Monsieur Vanderghote warmly for all that
he had done for us, promising that, if
it were possible, we should assuredly call
on him on our return to Ypres. We then
set off, two of us pushing the cart. We
had taken but a few steps, when a French
official stopped us once more, saying that
no carts were allowed on the high-road,
except those belonging to the army. We had
therefore to take a country lane, which had
the double inconvenience of being twice
as long as the straight road and, indeed,
of being also almost impassable. However,
there was nothing to be done but to go for-
ward as best we could ; so off we went. Oh
dear ! One wanted Goliath's strength to push
the cart over the stones and ruts. After a few
yards we came to a dead stop. The cart
was stuck. We pushed and pushed with
might and main — ^vain efforts. We could

161 M

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

not move it. We were finally obliged to
pull backwards, and thus managed to extri-
cate it. Taught by experience, we took
more care next time, looking where we were
going to ; so things went pretty well for about
a hundred paces, when, glancing behind us,
what was our dismay to see a number of
French soldiers coming by the same road,
some on horseback, others on foot, others
driving carts. There was only the narrow
lane in front of us, with no means of turning
visible to the right or left. What was to
be done ? We hurried on as best we could,
but what was the use? — in ten minutes
they would surely overtake us. At last,
turning round a corner, what was our relief
to see an open gateway leading into a farm-
yard. We boldly pushed our precious load
in, thus leaving room for the soldiers to pass.
We then tried if it were possible to find some
one to help us ; because, judging from the
difficulties we had met with so far, it was
really questionable if we should arrive at
Poperinghe before evening. After grumb-
ling a bit, two men offered to come with us as
far as Vlamertinghe. This was better than
nothing ; and, as we followed them, we

162

THE RETURN JOURNEY TO POPERINGHE

fervently prayed that we should meet with
some one else later on.

* On we trudged, wondering what had hap-
pened in the convent since our departure.
What if the Belgian Commandant had found a
train, and everyone had been obliged to leave
without us 1 No, surely that was not possible.
We passed soldiers, men, women, children,
wading through pools of mud and water,
and lamenting our long detour, which had
made us waste so much precious time.
Vlamertinghe at last — still five long miles to
Poperinghe — should we ever get there ? On
arriving at the village, our two good fellows
set about finding some one else to push our
cart, and finally succeeded. Having paid
them, we set off once more on our journey,
when behold ! a barrier was placed across the
road, and we had to come to a standstill.
They told us a train was coming. We
looked and looked, but saw no sign of it
in either direction. Meanwhile a crowd of
people assembled, who, accustomed to such
proceedings, pushed past, right up to the
railing, to be the first to pass, and we were
left at the back. We waited and waited,
still no train. What a waste of time !

163 Ma

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

Then came the sound of horses' hoofs, and
up trotted a whole regiment of soldiers, who,
of course, rode to the front, pushing the
crowd back, and us along with them. Still
no train ! We now happened to look across
to the other side of the barrier, and dis-
covered another regiment, waiting on the
opposite side, with again a crowd of people
behind them. Should we ever get through ?
Still no train ! Decidedly, the good man's
watch must have been considerably in ad-
vance, or else he possessed the virtue of
prudence in its highest perfection. At
length a feeble whistle told us that the long-
expected locomotive was coming. But it
must have been a train of wounded soldiers ;
for first it moved forward at a snail's pace,
and secondly it seemed, to our worn-out
patience, to be at least one mile in length.
However, it passed at last ; and, the
barriers being withdrawn, the two regiments
crossed four abreast, then the crowds pushed
through, and last but not least came the
representatives of the Irish Benedictine
Abbey, with their stylish-looking hand-cart.
Once more, on we pushed ; but the five
miles must have been German ones, which,

164

THE RETURN JOURNEY TO POPERINGHE

like their dreadful soldiers, never come to
an end.

*Our guide kept bravely on, from time
to time stopping to wipe the perspiration
off his face ; for, although it was freezing,
the poor fellow had no light work to try
to advance through the mud and dirt. At
last, passing by some houses, he left the cart
in the middle of the road, and vanished.
The reason soon became evident, for a
moment afterwards he came out with a
glass of foaming beer, wherewith to refresh
himself. Once again, on we went. Would
the road ever come to an end ? Would
we ever arrive at our destination ? We
scanned the horizon to find some vestige
of our approaching goal, but could discover
nothing but an endless succession of trees,
hop-gardens, fields. Finally, however, some
houses came in sight, so plucking up our
courage, we pushed forward, and soon reached
the convent door. At last we should get a
rest. Alas, how we were deceiving our-
selves ! Once inside, we were soon sur-
rounded by our Sisters, one more anxious
than the other to know what had happened,
and to tell us what had been decided during

165

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

our absence. Parcels of every shape and
dimension next met our eyes. Arrived at
the room which we generally occupied, what
was our astonishment to find dear Lady
Abbess downstairs, surrounded by the nuns
of both communities. On catching sight of
us, she was more than delighted. We knelt
for her blessing, and to tell her some of our
adventures, and then learnt the reason of all
this excitement.'

Mother Prioress will now tell what
happened during the absence of Dame
Columban, Dame Patrick, and Dame Placid.

' As soon as the three nuns had set
out for Ypres, we went to the chapel to
recommend them to the protection of God,
and by a fervent " Sub tuum " we com-
mended them to the care of the Blessed
Virgin. They had promised me to be back
if possible that night, or at least the next
morning, if they could remain in the
convent cellars without too much danger.
At 3 P.M. I was called to see Captain
Liddell, who told me that the British Head-
quarters would place two ambulance cars
at our disposal to conduct Lady Abbess

166

THE RETURN JOURNEY TO POPERINGHE

and the community to St. Omer. The cars
would be ready between ten and eleven
next morning. He also said that, once at
St. Omer, I had only to address myself to
the mayor, or to the general staff. I thanked
him profusely, and told him of my anxiety
for the three nuns who had gone to Ypres.
" It was a very imprudent thing to attempt,"
he answered. " I trust they will not be
allowed to enter the town, for it is being
fiercely shelled." I was very alarmed, as
were the rest of the community, to whom
I related what the captain had said. In
the evening, we were assembled with the
nuns from Oostmieunkerke in the big parlour,
which the Superioress had kindly allotted for
our use. The gas being cut off, we had only
one petrole lamp between us. We spent our
time working and praying.

' From time to time, on hearing a ring at
the bell, we would ask if the nuns had yet
come back ; one of the younger nuns would
go and enquire, but always returned dis-
appointed. We looked at each other
anxiously. What would become of them this
night ? We could only recommend them
to God. Suddenly I had an inspiration.

167

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

'* Let us put them under the protection of
St. Raphael," I said, " and promise him a
Mass to-morrow — there are several priests
at the ambulance, one of them will surely be
free to say it." Everyone was pleased with
the idea, and Dame Teresa went to make
enquiries. She soon came back in triumph,
saying that the priest from Avignon was
outside. We told him our distress, and
respectfully begged him to be so kind as to
say the Mass in honour of St. Raphael for
the safe return of our three absent ones. He
willingly agreed. At the same moment the
appearance of the portress brought the cry
to our lips : *' They are there ! " " No !
it is the Commandant Delporte, of the Bel-
gian police, who wishes to speak to Mother
Prioress." I went to the parlour, fear and
hope alternately taking possession of my
heart. He came to ask if Captain Liddell
had called, and if the decision of the Head-
quarters suited us. I told him of the
arrangement and added, " Once at St. Omer,
what shall I do with our honoured Lady
Abbess ? May she remain in the motor,
which they say must return to Poperinghe
that evening, while I go to the mayor and

168

THE RETURN JOURNEY TO POPERINGHE

general staff ? " He reflected a moment,
and then, taking one of his cards, he wrote a
few words recommending us to Major Kirke.
" Take this," he said, rising, " and give it
to the major, who is a great friend of mine,
and rest assured that all will be well." I
could not thank him enough, and conducted
him to the door. There I found myself in
presence of two men, who asked to see me.
They brought me a message from our nuns,
telling me not to be anxious ; they would not
return that night, but the next day, as soon
as possible. I felt a little relieved, but
again the question presented itself, at what
hour would they arrive ? Would they be
in time ? The next morning we arranged
our modest parcels, which — thanks to the
dexterity of Dame Aloysius — were soon
ready, thinking all the time of our missing
Sisters. For my part, I went to prepare
Lady Abbess for our departure, for the hour
was fast approaching. We must come to a
decision — ^the three must remain at La
Sainte Union until the opportunity of
joining us in England should present itself.
We had now to get Lady Abbess down the
stairs which were narrow and steep, and

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THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

it was with the greatest difficulty that we
succeeded. We made her as comfortable as
we could in an arm-chair in the big parlour,
where the nuns of the three communities
gathered round her, for everyone was filled
with an affectionate respect for her, mingled
with compassion for her age and infirmity.
We tried to hide our perplexity and anxiety
from her. It was now time to start,
and the three were not yet back. At this
moment the portress entered the room
smiling — what was it ? Captain Liddell had
just called to say the motors would not be
round till 1.30. " Deo gratias ! " To com-
plete our happiness, the absent ones soon
arrived, covered with dust and mud, but
producing in triumph the great-habits and
breviaries they had been able to save.'

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CHAPTER XII

ON THE WAY TO ENGLAND

There was now no time to waste. The
few treasures we had brought with us were
promptly added to the other packages ;
while it was decided that each nun should
wear her great-habit, as much to lessen
the number of parcels, as to preserve us
from the cold, especially when crossing the
sea. We bade adieu to the Superioress
and community of La Sainte Union, who
had given us such a warm welcome, and
shown us such hospitality during the past
fortnight. They asked us in return to
beseech Our Lord not to allow the Germans
to bombard Poperinghe, that they might
be able to stop in their convent, which they
had only built during the past eleven years,
since the French Government had driven
them from Hazebrouck.

A ring at the door interrupted our

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THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

adieux. The voice of a British officer was
heard, asking if this were the convent where
the Irish Dames of Ypres had taken refuge.
The answer was soon given ; and while
some went to help Lady Abbess, others
seized the ' baggage,' and all were soon
at the door, where a group of wondering
children and other people were assembled
to see what would be the end of such an
unusual sight. The great difficulty was
to get our venerable invalid into the car ;
for although able to walk fairly well when
helped on both sides, it was almost impossible
for her to mount the two small steps. How-
ever, the soldiers soon came to the rescue;
and, with the help of their strong arms, she
was soon established comfortably in a corner
of one of the motors, enveloped in a blanket
and numerous shawls to keep out the cold.
The rest of the community were not long in
getting in the motors, and Edmund brought
up the rear with a young Irish girl. Miss
Keegan, who had been trying to get home
since the war broke out, and had now
begged to be allowed to make the journey
with us.

Owing to the heavy fall of rain and the

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ON THE WAY TO ENGLAND

unusual traffic, the roads were in a verv
bad condition and consequently our ride
was not of the smoothest ; but no accident
occurred. Being frosty weather, the wind
was bitterly cold, and we were obliged to
keep everything closed that Lady Abbess
might not be inconvenienced. She, how-
ever, kept up bravely. We did not forget
to say the ' Sub tuum,' nor to invoke our
good St. Raphael with a fervent ' Angeli,
archangeli,' to which we added the prayer
for travellers. About half-way our kind
guides came round to the entrance of the
cars to know if we wanted anything.
We passed through several villages and
small towns surrounded by snow- covered
fields and frozen ponds. Nothing of note
happened to vary the monotony of the
continual shaking of our motors. A little
after 5 p.m. we came to a standstill, and
looking out, found ourselves in what seemed
to be a good-sized town. We were not left
long in suspense, for soon the cheery face
of the officer in charge appeared, enquiring
where we wished to be driven, for we
were at St. Omer. Mother Prioress then
produced the letter of recommendation given

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THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

her by Commandant Delporte for Major
Kirke. The officer took the card, and soon
we moved off in another direction. After
a few minutes' run, we came again to a
halt, stopping some time. The officer then
reappeared, saying that the major was
absent, and asking where we would like
to go now. Alas ! we did not know, and
wondered if it would not be advisable to go
straight on to Boulogne that same evening,
to take the boat the first thing next morning.
The officer, seeing our perplexity, vanished
once more. Soon we were bowling through
busy streets, lined with shops well lit.
Another stop, a few minutes' wait, and off
we were again. A third halt — then another
officer appeared, saluted, and asked in
excellent French if he could render us any
service, or replace Major Kirke, who was
absent from St. Omer. On hearing our
situation, he told us that if we would just
step out we should find accommodation in
the establishment before which the cars had
stopped. As he was still speaking, the
persons who kept the house came out,
helping us down, taking the parcels from
us, and seeming more than delighted at

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ON THE WAY TO ENGLAND

our arrival. We were not sorry to leave
the cars, for we were quite cramped with
the long, cold drive. The next question
was how to get Lady Abbess out of her
corner, and into the house. iVt last the
officer in charge had the bright idea of
carrying her on a stretcher. Accordingly,
one was brought down and laid on the
seat opposite. We then helped her to
sit on the stretcher, and induced her to
lie down. She was at first afraid, not
being accustomed to this novel mode of
conveyance ; but, being reassured, she
allowed the soldiers to carry her into the
house, and she was soon seated in a com-
fortable arm-chair by a blazing fire. After
expressing our gratitude to the good soldiers,
we rejoined Lady Abbess and soon made
acquaintance with our kind hostesses. WTiat
was our delight to find that they were
secularised Ursuline nuns, and that the
house had formerly been a convent of La
Sainte Union. It is therefore unnecessary
to state that we were received with
the greatest charity, a bed being even
carried down to the room where we were
for Lady Abbess, so that she should not

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THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

be obliged to go upstairs. Poor Edmund
had once more to be sent off, being conducted
to almost the other end of the town, much
to his distress.

After a good supper, we retired to rest
in what had once been the children's
dormitory, and fatigued by such an eventful
day we slept well. Next morning we were
awakened by the deep tones of church bells.
They were ringing the 6 o'clock Mass in the
cathedral, which was quite close to the
convent. We arose, and arrived in time
for a late Mass. We were shown to seats
almost at the top of the church. After a
few moments we heard the sound of soldiers
marching, and soon we had to give place to
them, for we had come to a Military Mass,
celebrated by an Army Chaplain. Two by
two the soldiers advanced, being marshalled to
right and left by an officer. It was an Irish
regiment, and there were altogether about
seventy soldiers who attended devoutly to
Holy Mass, and more than one, when the
moment of Holy Communion came, mingled
with those who approached the altar. After
Mass, we were conducted back to the con-
vent, promising ourselves a visit during the

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ON THE WAY TO ENGLAND

day to see the many objects of devotion and
interest in the venerable cathedral. We were
not disappointed. Amongst other antiqui-
ties is a ' Descent from the Cross ' by Rubens,
and oil-paintings in memory of a visit which
holy King Louis IX and Charles X paid to
the cathedral, in thanksgiving for the success
of their arms. The sacred vessels, also, were
for the most part of great antiquity, especi-
ally a very ancient pyx ornamented with
filagree work. Besides the high altar, in
the middle of the sanctuary, having the stalls
for the bishop and canons behind, there were
numerous side-altars, among which the most
remarkable was that dedicated to Our
Blessed Lady of Miracles. This miraculous
statue was held in great veneration by the
inhabitants of the town ; and in the great
peril they had gone through some weeks
past, when the Germans were advancing on
St. Omer, and when the British had saved
it by arriving only just in time — for had they
come but half an hour later, the enemy
would have been before them — in the moment
of peril, the people had promised Our Blessed
Lady, to give a new bell to the cathedral if
she kept the dreaded invaders from entering

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THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

the city. ' Ex-votos ' without end hung all
round the altar, besides numberless engrav-
ings in thanksgiving for miracles and cures
obtained through Our Lady's intercession.

After our interesting visit, we stopped for
vespers, which, since the beginning of the
War, were sung by the entire congregation ;
during which time we profited to say our
own vespers and compline. We then went
to visit M. le Cure de Furnes who, we knew,
was stopping at St. Omer, Mother Prioress
desiring to have news of her cousin the
Dean of Furnes who, we heard, was at
Boulogne. We also had the pleasure of
saluting M. le Vicaire.

On our way, we met some soldiers
from Morocco — easily distinguished as
Arabs, by their bright blue tunics and long
scarlet cloaks, with their big turbans,
their blankets thrown round them, and their
lovely horses. When we returned to the
house, we learned that Lieutenant Stuart-
Hayes, who had been so kind to us on the
previous evening, had called to see Reverend
Mother. He had, likewise, left a message
to say that he would try to assist at Benedic-
tion in the evening ; and afterwards he

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ON THE WAY TO ENGLAND

would come round again. He would be also
very grateful if, before his visit, Mother
Prioress would make out all that was neces-
sary for our passports. All being finished,
we set out for the cathedral once again ;
for although there were still twenty minutes
before Benediction, yet at St. Omer, as
nearly everywhere else, the churches, since
the beginning of hostilities, were crowded,
and those who before never put their foot
inside a church were now amongst the most
fervent ; so, to secure our places, we had to
be there in time. The rosary was first said
aloud, the priest ascending the pulpit, so as
to be better heard by everyone. After the
' O Salutaris,' repeated alternately by the
choir and congregation, the ' Miserere ' was
sung, the people repeating the first lines
between each verse of the Psalm. There was
something particularly touching in that cry
for mercy which arose from every heart at
the thought of the dear ones who, perhaps
even at that very moment, were being shot
down on the battle-field. But what made the
most impression was the hymn sung after
Benediction, and which still rings in our
ears — ^that ardent supplication to ' La bonne

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THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

Mere ! ' ' Vierge d'esperanee, Etends sur
nous ton voile ; Sauve, sauve la France ! Ne
I'abandonne pas ! ' It was truly a prayer
in the real sense of the word, beseeching the
Mother of Mercy not to forsake the land she
had so many times miraculously saved, and
where, but a short while before, had been seen
such a wonderful outburst of faith at the
Eucharistic Congress of Lourdes — the spot
chosen by Our Blessed Lady herself, and
where the devotion to the Son had ever been
united to that of the Mother. The sound of
the grand old organ greatly enhanced the
beauty of the singing; and our hearts also
mounted to the throne of mercy in behalf of
our well-beloved Abbey which we were now
leaving so far behind.

Soon afterwards, returning to our lodgings.
Mother Prioress received the promised visit
of the lieutenant, accompanied by a military
priest. He brought all the necessary papers
with him, together with a recommendation
for the Governor of Boulogne, and took
away our passports to have them signed.
Reverend Mother told him she would like so
much to have a Mass celebrated the next day
in honour of St. Raphael for our safe voyage.

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ON THE WAY TO ENGLAND

He promised to see if it would be possible ;
and true enough, he returned a short time
after with the good news that not only
should we have a Mass said at which we could
assist, but that he had obtained permission
for the priest to accompany us as far as
Boulogne. We were now in jubilation and
proceeded once more to arrange our packages.
The night soon passed, and next morning we
proceeded to the cathedral wondering where
we should find ' our priest,' whom we did
not know, and had never seen ! At the
High Altar preparations were being made
for a funeral ; so we passed to the chapel of
Our Lady of Miracles where a Mass was al-
ready half finished, hoping that ' our priest '
would perhaps say the next one. Towards
the end, he came himself to look for us, and
told us he would not be able to come to Our
Lady's Altar as all the Masses there were
reserved, but that he would commence
immediately at St. Antony's. So we crossed
over to the other side of the cathedral where
Father Flynn (as we afterwards found out
he was called) said Mass, at which we all
received Holy Communion. After break-
fast we made the last preparations ; and,

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THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

about ten, three ambulance cars drove up
to the house. The exiled nuns helped us
as much as they could, giving us each a
postcard with a view of the convent as a
souvenir of our visit. They were sorry
to see us leave, and told us to be sure
and call on them again, if we should ever
repass by St. Omer. The soldiers now came
in with a stretcher for Lady Abbess ; and the
nuns were so good that they insisted on
lending a mattress, blankets, and pillows,
which would be returned with the cars.
Having placed Lady Abbess on this portable
bed, the soldiers carried her out with the
greatest care. Father Flynn presiding and
enlivening the whole proceeding with Irish
wit. We were soon seated in the cars, but
had some time to wait, as Mother Prioress
was obliged to get a little money changed.
Meanwhile several people came to speak to
us, among whom was the sister of one of our
former pupils, who, recognising our habit,
came forward to know what had happened
to the Abbey. After a little while Reverend
Mother returned ; but still the cars did not
start. We soon learnt the reason when
Lieutenant Stuart-Hayes appeared triumph-

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ON THE WAY TO ENGLAND

antly with a bottle of light wine and a box
of biscuits, which he insisted on our accept-
ing. We could not thank him enough for
all that he had done for us ; but he withdrew
immediately, after making sure we had all
we desired, and courteously saluting us,
he gave word for the motors to start and we
were soon on the road to Boulogne. It was
bitterly cold, so we kept the car in which
Lady Abbess was lying well covered. Just
outside St. Omer, a British aeroplane
mounted from the aviation field. This was
the last we saw of active hostilities. Father
Flynn kept the conversation going, and,
between the prayers and hymns, endeavoured
to enliven the company. He told us he was
the first Catholic Chaplain to arrive with the
troops in France. He was going to the front
on the following Wednesday — let us hope
that he will be spared.

After running along for some time as
smoothly as was possible, considering the
bad state of the roads, the inmates of one of
the motors heard a crack like a report of a
revolver. At the same instant the car stood
stock-still — the two others following neces-
sarily did likewise. On enquiry, it was

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THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

discovered that a tyre had burst, which meant
a httle halt on the way. As we were just
outside a village, the inhabitants, though
accustomed by this time to British soldiers j

passing by, were not accustomed to seeing
nuns with them and consequently crowded
round to examine us a little nearer. None
being brave enough to ask where we came
from, they solved the problem themselves,
and christened us ' Les Petites Soeurs de la
Croix Rouge,' a title which I am afraid we
hardly deserved.

The country through which we passed
seemed very picturesque, judging from the
glimpses we got from time to time by lifting
up the flap at the end of the car — fields
covered with snow gradually sinking in
gentle slopes or rising in the distance in hilly
ranges. From time to time a woody glade
would change the monotony of the succeeding
meadows, then a small village with its quaint
little houses. As we were thus putting more
and more distance between Belgium and
ourselves, a sudden crash soon broke the
reigning silence. The leading motor having
drawn up when at full speed, the two others |

— not expecting this — had run one on top of

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ON THE WAY TO ENGLAND

the other. We were all thrown over on our
seats and so remained, not daring to move, for
fear of what might happen next. The truth
was that the first car, owing to a rapid run
down a slippery hill had charged into a
telegraph post, and that was the cause of our
being roused so unceremoniously out of the
dreams of ' auld lang syne.' The drivers
soon appeared to make excuses for the fright
they had unwillingly given us, saying that
there was no harm done, except for a
window broken. We were quite reassured
and started off again. Lady Abbess had
fortunately not realised the danger, and
only asked what the noise meant, and why
we had stopped.

We rolled on once more, but our guides
soon came to the conclusion that they had
mistaken their way ; so, consulting their
maps, they turned back. Uphill and down
again, going at the same flying pace, we at
last arrived in the historic old town of
Boulogne. There we still continued to
mount and descend, for the streets seemed
all very steep. It was now between 2.30 and
3 P.M. and the boat would not leave till 4.
We decided it would be better to stop in our

185

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

cars, as it was hardly according to the nature
of our vocation to go about sight-seeing,
and if we got down we should only stand
shivering in the cold.

The motor-car in which were Lady Abbess
and Mother Prioress was next driven off
to the Governor's house, and having drawn
up. Father Flynn alighted to arrange every-
thing for us. We patiently awaited his
return, little dreaming of the honour which
was being prepared for us, till we saw the
Governor coming in person to salute the
Superioress. Reverend Mother having re-
turned his greeting, told him of the great kind-
ness we had everywhere received from the
British Headquarters, at which he expressed
the hope that we would experience the same
from the French. He then introduced Lieuten-
ant Treillard, to whom he gave us in charge,
with directions to see us all safely on board.
With truly French gallantry the lieutenant
saluted the company, and Father Flynn
carefully pocketing his precious papers
and jumping up by the chauffeur, the car
with Lady Abbess and Mother Prioress
rejoined the rest of the community.

Our conductors, who were evidently

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ON THE WAY TO ENGLAND

hungry, now produced bread, tinned meat,
and cheese. One, buying some potato chips,
promptly came to share them with us.
We decHned to accept them, thanking him
all the same for his kindness. We thought
we could not do better than follow their
example; so Mother Prioress divided Lieu-
tenant Stuart-Hayes' biscuits among us.
Father Flynn produced a packet of chocolate,
and then each in turn drank some wine from
the solitary little mug we had brought in case
Lady Abbess should want anything on the
way. As the soldiers seemed very cold,
stamping their feet on the frozen road,
Reverend Mother gave them also a drop of
wine ; and for one who refused (having
probably taken the pledge) she warmed some
milk with the little spirit-lamp we had.
They were all delighted. Poor fellows ! it
was the least we could do for them, when
they had rendered us such good service.

Captain Dwyer, who had brought our
papers from the general staff to Lieutenant
Stuart-Hayes when we were at St. Omer, now
joined us once more (having been sent to
Boulogne with despatches) to assure himself of
our safety. Our long stay ended by exciting

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THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

the curiosity of the bystanders, and we
received rather indiscreet visits of persons
who, apparently passing innocently by the
cars, lifted up the flap to look in. Some
ventured to talk, and we discovered one poor
man who said he came from the Rue St.
Jacques, Ypres, and an old woman who had
walked all the way from Dixmude.

At last it was time to go on board the
boat. The ambulance cars took us quite
close to the gangway. When we had all got
down with our parcels, the soldiers lifted
the stretcher on which Lady Abbess was
lying, and gently carried her on board and
into the cabin, where we helped her on to
a sofa. Lieutenant Treillard superintended
everything, and good Father Flynn made fun
all the time. The latter then gave special
injunctions to Reverend Mother about the
papers, &c., and giving us his blessing, with
a special one to Lady Abbess, having in his
turn begged hers, with all possible wishes for
a safe arrival at our destination, he hurried
off the boat, which was preparing to leave.
The passage was very calm, but cold and
frosty. For more than one of us it was the
first crossing, Lady Abbess having up to this

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ON THE WAY TO ENGLAND

time never even seen the sea ; and, sad
to say, nearly all proved ' bad sailors '
except, curiously enough, Lady Abbess.
Happily, however, the passage only lasted
1 hr. 20 min., so we were soon at Folkestone.
Thanks to our papers from British and French
Headquarters, we were passed successfully
by the doctor and other officials (who
stopped two Belgian peasants following us
ashore) — even Edmund got through without
the least difficultv. Arrived in the station,
a telegram was sent to a relative of one of the
community in London, who kindly looked
out lodgings for us in advance. It seemed
an interminable time before the train set
off, and afterwards, rushing through the dark-
ness, passing station after station, town after
town, we thought London would never come.
However, all things come to an end, and so
did our journey, as at last we steamed into
Victoria Station. There, one would have
said we were expected, we were so kindly
received by the ladies on the platform,
who helped us out and pressed us to take
something. On hearing where we had come
from, and how we had succeeded in getting
honoured Lady Abbess safe through so

189

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

many difficulties, everyone was more than
interested ; and soon porters were running
in all directions to get cabs to convey us to
our destination which was in quite another
part of London. A bath-chair was brought
for Lady Abbess who was wheeled out of the
station, Mother Prioress holding her hand.
One of the ladies, seeing the impossibility of
getting her into a cab, fetched a private
motor-car. The gentleman who owned it,
helped by a soldier, lifted Lady Abbess
gently in. Then they drove to the hospital
of SS. John and Elizabeth, whither it was
thought better for the present to take Lady
Abbess. The soldier, overcome by the sight
of our dear Abbess' patience, took her in his
arms — exclaiming, when he came downstairs,
' I could not help it, she is such a dear
good old lady.' Dame Patrick's aunt (Mrs.
Adamson) had arranged everything for us,
and so Dame Patrick, with Mother Prioress
and Dame Columban, were cordially received
at her house. Lady Abbess remained
at the hospital of SS. John and Elizabeth,
where, indeed, she received every attention,
together with seven other members of the
community. Dame Teresa, Dame Aloysius,

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ON THE WAY TO ENGLAND

and Dame Walburge experienced the same
charity at the Sisters of Hope. Edmund was
also taken in at Mrs. Adamson's. Those at the
hospital and the Sisters of Hope heard Mass
there next morning; and Mother Prioress,
Dame Columban, and Dame Patrick walked
as far as the Dominicans at Haverstock
Hill. We may here note the loving goodness
of Divine Providence, which had not once
allowed us to miss Mass or Holy Communion
in spite of all the dangers and fatigues of
the past weeks. We were truly like the
Israelites in the desert, for whom the manna
never failed.

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CHAPTER XIII

OULTON

Next morning we were all motored from
our different lodgings to Euston Station,
where we were met by Mr. Nolan, brother of
Rev. Dom Nolan, O.S.B., and at 10.30 we
entered on the last stage of our never-to-be-
forgotten journey. We had three reserved
compartments at our disposal, by the kind
intervention of a gentleman at Victoria
Station, who had given a signed card to
Mother Prioress, telling her to show it to
anyone who should question her. And so we
travelled safely from Ypres to Oulton. How
strange it seemed, for more than one of us, to
pass by those scenes which we had thought
never more to see in this life ! We had left
our country, home, and all, to shut ourselves
up in the peaceful solitude of Ypres Abbey ;
and here we were, forced to retrace our

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OULTON

steps and to return temporarily to the world
which we had willingly given up. God was,
however, preparing us another place of refuge
from the turmoil of Babylon, into which we
had suddenly been thrown.

After changing trains at Stafford, where
Lady Abbess experienced the same con-
siderate compassion which had been shown
to her all along, we arrived at Stone Station.
There we were met by some of the pupils of
Oulton Abbey, who told us how everyone
was expecting us, and how they had tried
during the past weeks to obtain news of us,
but always unsuccessfully. Two Dominican
nuns from the Stone Convent next came
forward to greet us, one being an old Prince-
thorpian school-companion of Dame Colum-
ban and Dame Teresa.

The carriages awaiting us were soon full,
and as there was not room for all, four of us
offered to walk. We lost nothing by this;
for passing by Stone, the two Dominican
nuns who had so kindly come to the station
to meet us, obtained permission for us to
visit their convent. We went all round the
church (the community were singing vespers
in their choir) and then through the cloisters,

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THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

which reminded us of the dear Abbey
we had left behind. We saw the com-
munity room and several others, and lastly
found ourselves in the parlour, where we
awaited the honoured visit of Reverend
Mother Prioress. We passed an agreeable
time, till the sound of carriage wheels told
us that one of the vehicles which had
already been up to Oulton had returned
to fetch us.

Our honoured Lady Abbess and the
community were received with open arms
at St. Mary's Abbey. It was with true
motherly affection that Lady Laurentia
opened the doors of her Monastery to receive
the Ypres community. The two communi-
ties— Oulton and Ypres — have always been
closely united, and one of the first thoughts
of the Oulton nuns, on the outbreak of this
dreadful war in Belgium, was for the Abbey at
Ypres. As early as September 17 the Lady
Abbess had written and offered us a home,
in case we had to leave our Monastery ;
but for some weeks we had refused to believe
that this would ever happen.

When we arrived we found the Lady
Abbess and community assembled to receive

194

OULTON

us, and also the chaplain, Monsignor Schobel.
who was no stranger, as he had often visited
us at Ypres when staying with his friends
at Bruges. We were very pleased to see him
again.

By degrees we learned the trouble we
had unwittingly caused the nuns ; for a
letter which Mother Prioress had written
five days before, from Poperinghe, to an-
nounce our arrival had only come that
morning, and the telegram from London had
followed almost immediately. Everyone had
been obliged to set to work to prepare for
our accommodation. Two large rooms were
placed at Lady Abbess' service. There were
only two cells free, so one was allotted to
Mother Prioress, and the other to Dame
Placid. The rest of the choir dames were
comfortably established in a dormitory of
the new building only completed since the
month of October. The lay-sisters found
beds in another large room, and so our
wanderings came to an end.

No one save those who have suffered as
we have suffered can realise the joy which
we experienced in finding ourselves once
more in the calm and quiet of monastic

195 o 2

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

life, where Holy Mass and Communion,
the singing of the Divine Office, meditation
and spiritual reading, succeeding the
varied duties of the day, tend to soften
the memories of the scenes of bloodshed
and wretchedness which can never be
forgotten.

Yet the echoes of this war of horrors
reach us, even in our haven of rest. As I
write, news reaches us from our chaplain
(Monsieur de Seagher, Principal du College
Episcopal, Ypres) who has returned to
Ypres to find his college entirely pillaged
and almost in ruins. He says that a third
of the population has already re-entered
the town ; all are in dismay at the heart-
rending sight which meets their gaze. As
to our convent, he writes : ' The state of
your Abbey is also deplorable. The shells
have made great havoc there. The French
soldiers occupy it at present. In several
places the water is rising in the cellars.
God alone knows what we shall still
see, for the bombardment is not yet
finished.'

And now, what has God in store for us ?
We know not ! When shall we return to

196

OULTON

brave little Belgium, and how shall we
rebuild our monastery which, as has been
said, should this very year celebrate its
250th anniversary ? God, in His own good
time, will raise up kind friends who will
come to our assistance — of this we cannot
doubt. In confidence, patience, and prayer
we shall therefore await the moment
chosen by Him WTio has said : ' Seek
first the Kingdom of God, and all these
things [i.e. temporal gifts] shall be added
to you.'

Meanwhile we beg the Father of Mercy
and the God of all Consolation to have
pity on the world, and put an end to the
dreadful punishment which weighs so heavily
on our unfortunate generation. May He
enlighten our enemies, that, realising the
injustice of their cause, they may be con-
verted, and cease their cruelties. May He
also, in His infinite goodness, purge the entire
universe from the crimes which have
degraded humanity and brought it down to
the level of ancient paganism, so that all,
seeking only His greater honour and glory,
may unite in the canticle of praise which
Holy Church places on our lips during the

197

THE IRISH NUNS AT YPRES

Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and which first
resounded on Bethlehem's plains round the
crib of our common Redeemer : —

'Gloria in excelsis Deo, et in terra pax
hominibus bonae voluntatis.'

THE END

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