Ampthill & District Archaeological & Local History Society. 2001.

It is eighty-three years since the armistice of “The War to End All Wars” and the dream of perpetual peace has yet to come true. “Lest we forget” is as relevant today as it ever was.

Ampthill was a training ground for many troops in the 1914-1918 war and again in the 1939-1945 conflict. The scars of both wars can still be found in the Ampthill landscape but the greatest change by far was to Coopers Hill, still known affectionately by local people as “The Firs” even though there is hardly a fir tree to be seen. We all know that the trees were cut down in the first World War to send to France for “use in the trenches”. Tradition has it that the trees were cut down too late for the war effort and got no further than Ampthill railway station. This, always an unlikely story, and a number of other myths have been discredited with the discovery of a booklet about the 126th. Company of the Canadian Forestry Corps. The Canadians were specially drafted to Ampthill to cut down the trees and prepare them for dispatch to France.

This Society has been researching the effects of war in the locality and is very impressed with the booklet. Rather than try to rewrite the information we consider the original text should be available to all who are interested in the history of our town, so we have copied it as faithfully as we can as a tribute to the people of Ampthill who saw their beloved trees cut down and to their Canadian allies who performed the act. A Review of Activities with the 126th Company Canadian Forestry Corps while stationed at Ampthill, Bedfordshire, Eng.

Written by HERMAN L. PORTER. -(B.A. Acadia University)- Sergeant with Canadian Y.M.C.A

Passed for Publication by the Press Bureau. ------Printed by The Bedfordshire Times Publishing Company Ltd., Bedford. The Non-Commissioned Officers

Reading from left to right. Back Row. Corpl. J. Powell, Corpl. A.W.H. Blackall, Corpl. J. Crick, Corpl. A.A. Garneau, Corpl. J.E. Quin- lan.

Middle Row. Sergt. G.W. Goodwin, Sergt. H.I . Porter, A/Sergt. F.T. Sudbury, A/Sergt. W.P. Le Rossignol, Sergt. W.M.H. Dunn, Sergt. J. Beers, Sergt. R. Chugg.

Front Row. Sergt. A Scott-Marr, A/Sergt. J. Leitch, Sergt. J.H. Allen, Q.M.S. P.A.Ford, Sergt.-Major R.L.Miller, Sergt. S.H. Roschman, Sergt. S. Pottinger, A/Sergt. C.A. Gladman, Sergt. R. Car- swell. MAJOR A. B. R. KENNY,

OFFICER COMMANDING 126TH COMPANY, C.F.C. Major A.B.R. Kenny, (of Ottawa) has had nearly 15 years Military Experience with the Canadian Active Militia and the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Before coming overseas Major Kenny did strenuous work as a recruiting officer in Ontario. So successful was he in this work that his personal record for recruits enlisted and sent overseas was one of the best in the Dominion, the grand total of recruits so enlisted by him being over 3,400. Major Kenny has had seventeen years experience as a lumberman in Eastern Canada, Operating with the J. R. Booth Co., Messrs. Shepherd & Morris, and the Woolvereen Lumber Co., of Webwood, Ontario. His military experience, his practical experience as a lumberman, and his ability to lead and handle men have been the factors which have enabled Major Kenny to achieve a personal triumph with the 126th Forestry Company. Lieut. J..M. Wilkinson Lieut. H. Hatton Lieut. A.C. Buchan Lieut. F.P. Moffat (Transport Officer) (i/c Portuguese Camp) (Mill Officer) (Attached)

Lieut. G.M. Dingman Major A.B.R. Kenny Capt. P.H. .Jory (Late Adjutant) (Officer Commanding) (2nd in Command) he 126th Company of the Canadian Forestry Corps was stationed in one of the most picturesque as well as most historic districts of all England. Built upon the top of a pretty hill on the Duke of Bedford's magnificent estate, the camp overlooked the charming little town of Ampthill, while the surrounding country was full of historical interest.

Here John Bunyan lived and did much of his work. From the camp doors could be seen each morning the "Slough of Despond," while in the dim distance the "Delectable Mountains" arose to form a delightful background. On the left, a wooded hilltop looked down upon the spot where once a castle stood, a favourite resort of Henry VIII., and where good Queen Catherine spent her last days.

In all of Bedfordshire no place had been better known for centuries as an ideal spot for picnics and for lovers' walks than was the noted "Ampthill Pines." There the people of Bedford- shire and surrounding counties had come to spend their holiday, while upon the same hill the listening pines had heard the story of love, as told by each succeeding generation of Ampthill young. It thus happened, when by the fortunes of war it became necessary to cut into many of Eng- land's great forest reserves, the beauty spots of the country, that the towns- men gave but scant welcome to the Canadians, who, under the able lead- ership of Major A. B. R. Kenny, of Ottawa, had come to begin the work of destruction. And who could cen- LIEUT. ARCHER G. READ (ADJUTANT) sure them if at first their thoughts regarding the Canadians were rather harsh? Had not this been their one beauty spot for years? Had they not come to regard this hill as their own personal property? But gradually they came to see that it was a noble sacrifice, worthy of mak- ing for the successful prosecution of the war. These trees were to be sent to France to help in protecting their own lads. They began to see that the HEADQUARTERS CAMP Canadians were not to be blamed for their part in the destruction, while they soon learned to appreciate the company of skilled foresters who had come over from Canada to help them in the struggle for existence.

As time went on, the men experienced towards the townsmen a deep bond of friendship, which tended to alleviate the feeling of loneliness bound to attack the Canadian away from his native surroundings. The people were as keenly interested in our welfare as they were in the work that was done, which is saying very much indeed. The first operation espe- cially was of great interest to them. It kept the men busy in defending the com- panies' motives, and in telling the young ladies that there was a war on. As a mat- ter of fact, so great was the interest manifested during the first month that four policemen had VIEW FROM HEADQUARTERS to be continually on the job to chase the people from fall- ing trees. But all this was part of the game. Grad- ually they opened their homes until they held such a place in the lives of the men that the good folk of Ampthill will al- ways be remem- bered with kindly thoughts. Thus the "battle of the pines" be- gan. The shrieks AFTER THE INSPECTION of the dying trees were heard in the town as they fell. But steadily the battle proceeded, and, as usual, the Canadians were on the winning side. Then came the "stretcher- bearers" to clear away the bat- tlefield. Presently the hill was bared, and the logs on the way to the mill to be prepared for France. Such, in general, was the setting of the camp. The approach to the camp was through a beautiful driveway of lime trees, known throughout the county as the "Alameda." The camp was established at Ampthill on the 24th of Au- gust, 1917, with an advance party of forty men and four officers. Capt. P. P. Elliott, of Winnipeg, was then in charge. Lieut. J. M. Wilkinson, of St. Catharines and Lieut. G.M.Dingman, of Toronto, were also of the advance party. “SOME TIMBER” Lieut. Dingman was Adjutant of the camp until April, 1918, when he was succeeded by Lieut. Archer G. Read, P.P.C.L.I. Lieut. Read joined the Forestry Corps in June, 1917, after being wounded at Vimy Ridge in the spring of that year. He was with the 101st Company, C.F.C., Virginia Water, until his transfer to the 126th. The Staff-Sergeants were: Company Sergeant-Major R. THE BIG RAVINE Lorne Miller, of Winnipeg, Quarter- master Sergeant P. A. Ford, of Winnipeg, and Orderly Room Sergeant S.H. Roschman of Kitchener, Ontario. Major A. B. Kenny, then Capt. Kenny, arrived on Sunday, August 26th, to take over the management of the camp. Tents were erected on Sept. 5th. The English rains caused a good bit of discomfort to the men, but their har- dy physiques stood them in good stead, and only a few colds resulted.

It was a notable day for the company when, on Sept. 5th, one hundred and seventeen other ranks arrived from the Base depot, bringing the strength of the Company up to one hundred and OFFICERS MESS eighty-six. All night on the 4th the small party of men on the spot were employed in burn- ing the brush on the campsite, in order that tents might be erected the next morning. All of the meals were served in real camp style, the men sitting on the log-piles and amongst the trees. The men lived in QUARTERMASTER’S STORES tents for nearly three months. Then they moved into the huts erected upon the hilltop. There was the usual arrangement - officers' quarters, men's quarters, orderly room, cook-house, police hut, quartermaster's stores, blacksmith shop, medical huts, and last, but by no means least, a charming Y.M.C.A. hut. This was one of the most compact and well laid-out camps of the Corps. It was built in the form of a hollow square, the orderly room, kitchen, and guard room being on one side, and the Y.M.C.A. hut and men's quarters on the other side. The Officers' Mess and Quartermaster's Stores closed in the ends. In the rear, a shower-bath system was installed in the ablution room, adding much to the comfort of the men.

The huts were built in rustic Canadian style. Major Kenny had an eye for the beautiful as well as the eco- nomical when he de- signed and planned those huts. The major- ity of them were built almost entirely of slabs, otherwise waste material. With the rough side out, it gave a real back woods as- pect to the camp. The Camp was usually dry, there being but little mud at any time. THE BLACKSMITH’S SHOP The soil was sandy, and rain soon sank out of sight. Duckboard walks were built be- tween all of the huts, which were conveniently ar- ranged for the comfort of the men.

The orderly room, cookhouse, police hut, and men's quarters need no special descrip- “THE MAJOR”

tion, as they correspond with such huts in general. The Officers' Mess was a building most pleasing to the eye, both inside and out. The slab exterior had a log- cabin effect, while the inte- rior was well planned. A large open fireplace gave the room a home-like at- mosphere. The building comprised a kitchen, mess- room, ante-room, and small partitioned bedrooms for six officers. Major Kenny's room was furnished entire- ly with rustic furniture, while a small fireplace filled the room with good cheer. Another building of interest was the Quarter- master's Stores. Not only was stored there the equip- ment, clothing, boots, blan- kets, etc., necessary to a soldier's life, but also a LOG-MAKERS AT WORK goodly array of all tools needed in the work of the forester, the supply of which always surprised the English visitor. Q.M.S. Ford succeeded in making this one of the best managed stores of the district.

The blacksmith's shop was a rustic building, twenty by forty feet, built almost entirely of slabs, only 246 feet of service- able lumber being used. Sergt. Richard Chugg, of Ottawa, was blacksmith in charge. "Dick " nearly met his fate one day when READY FOR THE MILL a big bay mare kicked him out of the shop, but as usual he came back smiling.

A description of the Y.M.C.A. is found in another article.

Down over the hill were twenty portable Armstrong huts, the quarters of the Portuguese, who worked about the operation doing some of the unskilled manual labour, in order that the skilled labour of the Canadian might be used to its utmost capacity.

The transport ser- vice next caught the eye. Lieut. J.M. Wilkinson was Offi- cer in charge, and much credit was due to his management that so much materi- al was moved each day. Staff-Sergeant W. C. Kirkpatrick of Detroit, was N.C.O. in charge of the me- chanical transport. THE LOCOMOTIVE "Scottie," who had been twice wound- ed, was very popular with his men, which accounted to a great extent for the effi- cient work of that branch of the ser- vice. The vehicles were attached to the A.S.C., Bedford, for repairs. Petrol and oil was drawn from the supply depot as it was needed, gen- erally in 200 gallon lots. In the heavy months the con- sumption went as high as 900 gallons. THE MILL, AMPTHILL

A number of motor trucks were continually in use, hauling logs, lumber, and various supplies necessary to such a life as this. By means of the big "Lacre " trucks, with their string of trailers behind, large quantities of logs were moved with apparent ease about the country.

The horse transport was perhaps even more attractive. Sergt. P. A. Campbell was N.C.O. in charge of that section. During the months of Janu- ary and February, when a night shift was run, as well as a day shift, it was the duty of the transport section to keep the mills supplied with logs. When the long hauls were taken in- to consideration one realised what a tre- mendous job it was. Sergt. Campbell and his drivers worked early and late, with AMPTHILL MILL YARD the result that never for a single hour was the mill without logs.

A handsome team of large Canadian draft horses at work about the woods or in the mill-yard carried one back in thought to the old homeland, back to the " forest primeval," back to the woods where the real forester longed to return, when wars should cease.

The stables were at- tractive and well HOIST AT ENGINE HILL looked after. The men took an interest in their teams, and consequently were able to get the maximum amount of work. Fifty horses were used in the transport service. The horse transport was used entirely in clearing areas No. 1 and No. 2, owing to the impossibility of using the motor transport.

Now let us picture the men actually at work in the business of log-making. We enter a wooded grove, not tangled with underbrush, as is often the case in the Canadian for- ests, but with tall tree trunks bared of limbs for LOG IN TRANSIT – 23% INCLINE many feet, and with HORSE TRANSPORT 126TH. COMPANY CANADIAN FORESTRY CORPS.

126TH. COMPANY CANADIAN FORESTRY CORPS. trees spaced in such a way that the work of man was immediately recognised. We are now in one of the many beauti- ful pine groves on the huge estate of the Duke of Bed- ford. It is said that of every pine tree growing in the world there is a specimen upon this estate.

We hear the clear ringing of the axe as the skilled axe- men cut great LOADING notches into the side of the tree. Then two men of the gang commence to saw across the trunk, using for this purpose a six foot fell- ing saw. Soon a creaking and groaning is heard, as, with a last cut and a warning shout from the men, the noble pine falls to the ground, a vic- tim of the pres- ent war. Then come the swampers, who cut away the branches, and clear the trails for skidding the logs. Log- AT THE SKIDWAY makers now saw the logs into the required lengths. Strong and sturdy horses are hitched to the log, and it starts on its long, long jour- ney. At the skidway, a most interesting place where the logs are piled in heaps, to be loaded to the trucks, we get anoth- er example of the skill needed to do this work. An unskilled man would break an arm or a leg in five minutes, but not so the forester. This is LAYING STEEL his business. He is a skilled workman, and in an astonishingly short time, by the judicious use of chain and canthook the truck is loaded and on its way to the mill.

Lieut. A. C. Buchan, Mill Officer, was always to be found at his post. He joined the Company in September, 1917, after being wounded at Vimy Ridge in the early spring while fighting with a Western battalion. Here was an interesting scene. The logs were unloaded from the trucks, and piled in the mill yard. They were brought into the mill by means of a cable car. The sawyer, always a skilled man, stood at the lever. The log was rolled upon the car- riage, and then the big saw ripped into the wood, cutting off a slab. Each log was squared, then sawed into the size “PITCH OFF” of the lumber required. The checker noted the number of feet, as the lumber was passed out to the lumber-yard, where it was piled in heaps, or immedi- ately loaded to wait- ing railway wagons, to be sent to the coast, and over the channel to France. Sergt. H. Scott Marr was in charge of all shipping, a position which en- tailed a good deal of responsibility and care. “AFTER THE BATTLE” The mill sawed an average of 26,000 feet of lumber a day, while over sixty cars have been loaded in one day, ready for despatch to France. The record cut was made on the 29th of March, when 28,545 feet b.m. were made in ten hours. The cut for January was only short of the million mark by a few thousand feet. The yard always presented a busy appearance. Quantities of lumber were placed in large piles ready for shipment. The slabs were hauled away to the slab piles, to be used later for fuel, while the sawdust was hauled to a nearby field.

The engine room was always a place of interest. Here the power to run the plant was devel- oped, and from the same source came the power for the electric lights at the camp. Sergt. Goodwin, the jo- vial engineer, a OFF TO FRANCE general favourite in the camp, was al- ways to be found at work, and if at times he was unrecognis- able when covered with grease, yet he always managed to wear the same pleas- ant smile, as with the help of the engineer- ing staff, he kept his engines running.

The entire mill, a veritable beehive, was a revelation to the English onlook- er, who had never seen the mills to MECHANICAL TRANSPORT which the average Canadian is accus- tomed.

An interesting connection of the Ampthill mill was the little railway running out into the bush for about three miles, over which a small locomotive hauled big loads of logs to the mill. In places the line was built upon a 9.5 per cent incline, while in one place it descended a steep grade with a 23 per cent in- cline, too steep for the locomotive to proceed. Consequently a hoisting machine, manufactured by the Vancouver Engi- neering Works, was set up there; just another instance of the resource- fulness of the Canadian in overcoming any diffi- culty which his work may present. Although the rails were very light, being twenty-five pound steel, and only held in LACRE TRUCK WITH TRAILERS place by four and a half- inch spikes, yet the work of the locomotive proved a big suc- cess. In rainy weather it was sometimes very dangerous com- ing down the heavy grades, as the bearing sur- face for braking was only little bet- ter than an inch and a half. As a rule only two cars were brought down at each trip, since the rolling stock was too light for braking the loads. The loco- PORTUGUESE CAMP motive made from six to eight trips a day, bringing from thirty to seventy logs at each trip. On the mill line 2,300 ties were used to the mile. In fact, that number were used all over the operation. Sergeant William Dunn was in charge of all railway construction work. Each morning he could be seen marshalling his gang of Portuguese as they proceeded to work. When it is considered what a small number of Canadians he had to work with him, too much praise cannot be given him for the amount of work which he accomplished.

At Millbrook the Scotch mill was in operation for some months to handle the hard and soft wood from Haydon Hill and Moor Close. This mill was of the standard type with the Campbell attach- ment. The bulk of the sawn timber from Mill- brook operation was FLITWICK CAMP shipped on the London and North Western Railway from Mill- brook station, which required a haul of three-quarters of a mile. This plant, af- ter finishing the cut in this vicinity, was moved to Maulden, where the mill was fitted up with a butt- ing saw and edger. A sawdust conveyor was also installed.

Operations were not MAULDEN QUARTERS confined to one camp alone, but two detachments of men were in camp at Flitwick and Maulden. Major Kenny, picked an ideal spot at Flitwick for a camp. Nestling at the foot of the hill were several rustic huts, the quarters of “Number two” detachment of this company. The camp, consisting of three living huts, a mess room and kitchen, a Y.M.C.A. hut, and the horse stables, was erected in ten days. Two of the huts were built entirely of slabs, only the ridge, containing 48 ft. b.m., being sawn lumber. Even the roofs and floors were of slabs with rubberoid roofing on top of the former. The men quartered here were principally bushmen, as the work consisted mainly of felling, log making and loading.

Capt. P. H. Jory, the genial Second in Command, had his headquarters at this Camp. He was most ably assisted by Ser- geant J. Beers. The official log-scaler of the unit, Corporal Quinlan, spent much of his time for a few weeks in that vicini- ty. No article upon the company would MILL GANG, MAULDEN be quite complete unless "Quinn" had a place. Always a popular lad, he somehow managed to put over a good bit of work, though he was quite fond of stopping to argue with all who would listen. The butt of all camp jokes, he accomplished much in keeping up the good spirits of the men.

At Maulden, No. 1 detachment was stationed in a real old English thatched roof country farmhouse. Sergt. Sydney Pottinger was in charge of this detachment.

The 126th Company had the enviable distinction of producing more lumber than was produced by any other Company of its size in Great Britain. This was due partly to the

OFFICERS’ DUG-OUT very skilful management of the Commanding Officer, Major A. B. Kenny, who surely knows how to produce lumber, and partly to the fact that the men realised the impor- tance of the work in which they were engaged, and did not try to shirk. The record was even harder to maintain, owing to the fact that the thirteen cutting areas were scattered over ten square miles of country. Yet in spite of this handicap, it was made and maintained. On the first day of cutting on Cooper Hill 19 men felled 110 trees, and the pitwood was estimated at 325 lineal feet. On Monday, August 29th, 230 logs were made. The Company at this time was only 51 strong. By the 15th of September, after 117 other ranks had arrived from the Base, 17,434 logs had been made, and 54,714 feet of pitwood cut. On the 15th of December the cut stood as follows: Total logs cut, 41,565 pieces, making 3,254,612 ft. b.m. Total logs skidded, 35,582; total logs hauled to the mill, 8,286. The pitwood cut was 17,857 pieces. At the end of March the total number of logs cut were 59,176 pieces, making a total of 4,324,371 ft. b.m.

Accidents have been few in this Company, only two serious ones being recorded. In November 1917, Pte. John Hayward, one of the railway foremen, sustained a compound fracture of the arm when his railway car dashed into a closed gate at the bottom of the grade. His arm was amputated at a later date.

In February, 1918, Pte. Stewart, a teamster, was thrown from the top of his load of logs when the key log gave way. He received a compound fracture of the leg. There was but little sickness, as the camp was always kept in a sanitary condition.

We must not forget to picture the change of scenery after a gang of men had been at work for a few weeks. The trees were all cut down and hauled away. The brush was burned, and only the clean-cut tree stumps were left as a reminder of what was once a forest. Many of these plots of ground will, without doubt, be replanted after the war is over.

This, then, is a detailed description of the work done by the 126th Company of the Canadian Forestry Corps.

The work of the Canadian forester in England is, after all, but little known. No brass bands played for him. No papers told of his victories even though he did his bit, and a big bit it was, to win the war. None of the glory of war was his. Little praise came his way. His name never appeared in any casualty list, nor did he have any story of shot and shell to relate. No medals or rewards were pinned to his manly breast. But he carried on, day in and day out, doing his bit, covered with grime and dirt, with balsam and pine, wearied at night with a hard day's toil, but with it the satisfaction of knowing that, without his work, the men in the line would be far more seriously handicapped.

He was doing his bit just as nobly as anywhere else. Often he longed for the more exciting life of the trenches, that he, too, might be able to tell "stories" for the rest of his life. But his special brand of skilled labour was too badly needed in England, so he carried on, secure in the knowledge that his was work of national importance.

Let all honour and praise be given to the Canadian Foresters at work in Great Britain, as they did their bit for King and Country. he centre of social life in the camp was the Y.M.C.A. From very unportentious beginnings it grew until it became the finest Y.M.C.A. hut of its kind in Great Britain.

Shortly after the camp was built, Sergt. (now Lieut.) John H. Garden went to Ampthill, under the auspices of the Y.M.C.A., to promote its activities amongst the men. Rooms

Y.M.C.A. AMPTHILL were secured in the Wesleyan Church, and there work was started. But as work outside the camp limits is always unsatisfactory, a part of one of the men's huts was obtained for a Y.M.C.A. home. A canteen was built, games were furnished, and concerts arranged, while a staff of lady helpers came to serve in the canteen during the evening hours. Altogether, the Y.M.C.A. began to push its way ahead and become worthy of its name.

It soon became apparent that in such a progressive company a more up-to-date building was necessary. Major A. B. Kenny, who has always shown a great deal of interest in Y.M.C.A. work, decided to erect a hut to be used solely for such work. With Sergeant- Major Corbett as builder, the present rustic edifice was erected, a credit to its designer, and to the company in general. On January 31st, 1918, the hut was officially opened by Col. His Grace The Duke of Bedford, K.G., who was keenly interested in the work of this company. Major Fred Smith, Y.M.C.A. supervisor for England, Major A. B. Kenny, and other officials were pres- ent to assist in the opening. A fine concert was given in the evening to a large and appreciative audience.

Shortly after the building was opened, Sergt. John H. Garden received his com- mission, and was transferred to London, to take charge of the " Y " activities with the C.F.C. in Great Britain. He was succeed- ed by Sergt. Herman L. Porter, of Arcadia, Nova Scotia, who had been recently dis- charged from hospital, after being wound- ed at Vimy Ridge in the Spring of 1917, while serving as a stretcher bearer with the 85th Battalion, Canadian Infantry.

Let us give a more detailed description of SERGT. H.L. PORTER

this building. With the exception of the frame, floor, and roof, it was built entirely of slabs. The rough exterior gave the building a charming rustic appearance, reminding one of the backwoods in Cana- da. The interior was even more pleasing. A large open fireplace at one end of the building gave forth a cheery homelike appearance at all times. This was the gift of Major Fred J. Smith, Y.M.C.A. supervi- sor. The stage at the front of the hut was built to carry out the rustic idea. Slabs, with the bark showing, made unnecessary any stage scenery. In fact, when the foot- lights were on, such a unique stage setting was far more pleasing than any painted canvas. The stage curtain bore the crest of the unit. From the centre of the room an arrangement of tree branches formed a chandelier from which electric lights illu- minated the room.

LIEUT. J.H. GARDEN At one side of the hut was the canteen. Here a goodly sup- ply of soldier necessities were sold, while cakes and hot drinks were also pro- vided. Each evening a number of la- dies from the town came up to serve the men. Their INTERIOR Y.M.C.A. AMPTHILL services were deeply appreciated by the men, as their presence, whether in the canteen, at the piano, or before the fire chatting to some lonely boy, resulted in giving a homelike atmosphere to the hut, and in reminding the boys of the far-distant home-land.

A cosy reading and writing room was always filled with men who were reading the various magazines and books, or writing the home letters.

Two billiard tables provided much entertainment. Boxing gloves, quoits, checkers, chess, etc., were also much in use. The Y.M.C.A. sent out a complete set of baseball equipment, free of all charge to the men. This was continually in use during spare hours after the first of May.

The big feature of each week was the Thursday evening concert. Parties of Professional and semi-Professional artists from London, Luton. Ampthill, and Bedford, came to en- tertain when the hut was always taxed to its utmost to provide room for the men and their lady friends. As Y.M.C.A. FLITWICK. often as possible, a lantern address was given on Tuesday evenings. Saturday evening campfire contests were sometimes held. A travelling cinema made its appearance about every three weeks, and provided two most enjoyable evenings. Sunday evening sing-songs, after church, always appealed to a goodly number of men.

A detachment of men were in camp at Flitwick. Here a small Armstrong hut was loaned to the Y.M.C.A. A canteen was in operation, also a place to read and write letters.

At Maulden an honour box was kept to supply the men with a few necessities. Thus the Y.M.C.A. sought in every way to meet the needs of the men.

In these cosy huts the men sat for hours about the fireplace and told stories of logging days in Canada, or perchance some casualty could be persuaded to tell some of his experiences in the battle-scarred fields of France or Flanders. The " Y " was always popular. The men went there because they were sure of something to please them. Having such an organisation served to keep good order. Discipline was always good. The sergeants in charge of the work were untiring in their efforts to meet the needs of the men at all times, while the men on their part were glad to lend a helping hand.

In truth, the Y.M.C.A. supplied their needs, and was just another instance of the great good being accomplished by that organisation throughout the entire world.

AMPTHILL HOUSE, BEDFORDSHIRE

The reason for the vast quantity of timber that was required in France can be understood when we consider the miles of trenches and under- ground tunnels that were dug. The tunnels were used to house allied troops and to undermine the German lines in the later part of the war. Thousands of men lived in the bowels of the earth and only recently a complete hospital has been found, just as it was left when the conflict moved away in 1918. Undoubtedly the extent of the mining would have been a top secret at the time.

The activities of the 126th Corps were not confined to Ampthill, felling took place in Maulden, Flitwick and Millbrook, all on The Duke of Bedford’s Estate.

Kevan Fadden Chairman.

Note.

This Society has attempted to find if any members of Herman Porter’s family survive in Canada. Unfortunately the latest information obtained from his old University is as follows:-

Herman Leslie Porter: BA Acadia University 1917.

Last known to be working for Brandon College, Manitoba, 1925-1935. Drowned with his wife, Alfreda E. Smith and two children, June 19 1935.

We shall continue to search for other members of his family.

The Society would like to thank Mr John Wilson for his help in lending us his original copy of the book thereby making the work possible.