BASE REMOUNT DEPOTS IN TRANCE 75 



tonic effect of the rest in the quietude of these fields in Normandy is won- 

 derful where debilitated remounts arc concerned, and also in a larger degree 

 as regards the convalescents from veterinary hospitals. To them I shall 

 allude in due course when dealing with the great work in Trance of the Army 

 Veterinary Service. Tor the moment I have in mind two notable remount 

 farms, each under an untiring and enthusiastic major. Each will have 1,200 

 horses under supervision, and as they grow healthy and big and bright-eyed 

 in the fields they are brought in to the stabling, where, assisted in no mean 

 measure by German prisoner labour, they are got fit and hard again for their 

 war work. It is certainly interesting to state that the first of these rest farms 

 ■ — which can be referred to as " No. 4 " Advanced Remount Depot — -received 

 and issued roundly 20,000, while " No. 5 " received and issued a slightly 

 smaller number. Those are wonderful figures for " mere farms." 



Two days' march away there is an advance remount depot commanded 

 at that time by a gallant major whose only aim in life seems to be to enjoy 

 the maximum of work and the minimum of sleep. His stabling is chiefly in 

 the old beet store sheds of a sugar factor}', and he has to work hard because 

 the average strength of the squadron is 703 animals, constantly coming and 

 going to all manner of units. And the great measure of his success is shown 

 by these illuminating figures up to the end of 1917 : received and issued, 

 some 75,000 animals. 



But I am drawing nearer to the line, and that interesting part of my 

 subject must be left for another chapter. 



