The Henson Journals

[676]

Wednesday, April 12th, 1916.

618th day

A cloudy damp morning, but improving as the day advanced. I went to the Holy Communion at 8 a.m. Lillingston celebrated.

Sir William Worsley, who is here for the Bede College Meeting, was very interesting at breakfast. His two sons are soldiers: & one was wounded at Suvla Bay, & recommended for the Military Cross.

The morning post brought me a cheerful letter from Gilbert. He has been home on leave, & has now gone back to the front, where his duties have been sufficiently gruesome. He had to go trench–digging in ground which had been the scene of some fierce fighting last year:

"Wherever the pickaxes & spades were thrust they encountered dead Germans & French. Body after body was desecrated, & all along the sides of the trench we were digging, arms and legs protruded, & scraps of clothing &c. The smell was overpowering, and many of our men, who seem to stand a good deal by this time, were violently sick. The night was inky dark, & it began to rain. The whole business was pretty gruesome."

Could anything be more horrible & disgusting?

I finished the Easter Sermon. We entertained at lunch the members of the National Society's Commission & the Bede College Committee. These were Lord Armstrong (a large flabby man, with an impulsive manner, & a feeble face), the Bishop of Wakefield, Sir William Worsley, Canon Paterson, Miss Christopher, the architect, the Secretary, and Knowling. After lunch Clarence & I went to work at clearing away the ivy bed, & removed 40 barrow–loads of earth in two hours. I attended the special service in the Cathedral, & heard a careful discourse from Hughes. May came to ask me whether he ought to offer himself for a commission. That was more than I could answer!

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