The men who went to the Front, who had to live through life in the trench system, needed some relief from this, and would be periodically rotated back through the ‘rear areas’ for rest, training etc. One of those rear area towns was Poperinghe, and in the town was Talbot House.

I was lucky enough, in 1964 or ‘65, to be invited to Poperinghe with other young servicemen (I was an RAF Apprentice) to take part in the Toc-H 50th Jubilee.

We had about 3 days with a lot of “old soldiers” from the First War, and went on a number of visits with them.  I suspect they have all passed on now.

I have included some references to Talbot House and ‘Tubby’ Clayton, from one of Henry Williamson’s novels, based on his own experience of the war.

Talbot House

The following is from the book “At the Going Down of The Sun”; On 28 May 1916, 39-year-old Sgt. Gilbert Pegg (AMC, Canadian Expeditionary Force) was fatally wounded by a shell that ploughed into the side of the Talbot House Club in Poperinghe. Talbot House was one of the few places in the Salient offering soldiers of all ranks rest, relaxation and spiritual comfort; in short, a place where for a few brief hours it was possible to get away from the war. But not on this day. And not for Gilbert Pegg.  And so he became the only soldier to be killed in Talbot House during the entire war.  He is buried in the Poperinghe New Military Cemetery.

The Rev. Neville Talbot, was the senior chaplain of the British 6th Division.  He wanted the troops who came out of the line to have somewhere to go other than the cafes and restaurants, somewhere quiet, a “church pub with no beer”. He persuaded the Army to rent a house in Poperinghe, which became Talbot House. It was named after his brother, Lt. Gilbert Talbot who was killed at Hooge on July 30, 1915, and was run by the Rev. Clayton.

Clayton was nicknamed “Tubby” by all, and he was in fact a small tubby man with glasses.  he was still alive when we had our visit.  In the picture on the right you can see some of the flags there were out in Poperinghe for the anniversary. The far right one is Toc H with the Toc-H lamp emblem in the middle of the yellow flag. For those 3 days the whole village, had given themselves over to the returning soldiers.  While we were there we went with them to some of the cemeteries, to Ypres for a civic meal in the town hall, and for the last post at the Menin Gate.  For anyone who has not been there when the trumpeter plays that haunting tune, you cannot imagine how emotional it feels.  It must have been very evocative for the old soldiers, who would have had so many memories of that area.

Centre of Poperinghe

This lake is kept as a reminder of those days. It is one of the craters caused by the mines that were blown at Messines. We went out to this with some of those who remembered the day. Now, more that 35 years after the visit, I wish I’d taken some notes of what those old chaps were saying, but you don’t when you’re only 17 yourself.

“Tubby” Clayton in the red gown is helped around Poperinghe during the anniversary. Some of the young servicemen on the visit can be seen in the photo.

There was a reception and meal in the garden at the back of Talbot House. This included a huge cake that I think was made by the village.  The lamp is on top, and there are various scenes around the sides of the layers of the cake.  We were lucky with the weather!

One of a number of cemeteries we visited with the old soldiers.  I believe it was Ypres.

You can read more about Toc-H at www.toch.org.uk/tubby_clayton_toc_h.htm

or go to www.worldwar1.com/sftoch.htm

From Henry Williamson’s, ‘Love and the Loveless’, I have taken this description of the house in Rue de l’Hopital, where the main character, Phillip Maddison is taken by his friend ‘Spectre’ West

“They stopped outside a tall grey house, on the door of which was a notice, All rank abandon ye who enter here. Inside on the walls was a painted hand pointing to the door, with the words Pessimists Way Out.  They went up a wooden stairway, and then up another flight, and so along a bare wooden corridor.  On the wall was a notice, If you are in the habit of spitting on the carpet at home, please do so here.

“Is this Corps Headquarters?” laughed Phillip. He wondered if he had said the wrong thing, for ‘Spectre’ West looked straight ahead as he climbed up some steep open treads, and so into a large loft with beams and posts holding up the roof.

Phillip saw that it was a chapel.  From the king-post was suspended a chandelier with a ring of candles. Beyond, against one wall, was a red altar cloth, with green borders. Another red cloth, with gilt tassels, hung from a beam above the altar.  The space before the altar was flanked by two massive candles on wooden stands.  Beside each was a bowl of flowers. A carpet covered the centre of the floor.  There were a few plain wooden chairs and benches, and two shrines, one on either side of the altar, below semi-circular windows. There was a lectern painted white.

Williamson goes on to introduce ‘Tubby’ Clayton to the story.

“I’m sorry ‘Tubby’ Clayton is not here, you would like him.”

“Who’s he?”

“Gilbert Talbot’s great friend.  Gilbert was a Green Jacket, killed in the flame attack at Hooge.  He was a son of the Bishop of Winchester, and a fellow of the quality of Julian Grenfell. The altar over there is his memorial.  It’s a carpenter’s bench. This was a hop loft originally.  Take care how you go down the steps.  They’re built close and steep for better foothold, while carrying up bags of hops.”