ops--as indeed they were, being
mostly veterans of one or two campaigns--and as they were not brigaded
with us we saw little of them.

Early in November the King, accompanied by Lords Roberts and Kitchener,
reviewed the Division. His Majesty took special interest in the
Patricias, so we were not surprised when in the early days of December
the "Pats" left the Plain to join the 27th Division. Of their subsequent
doings another book might be written, for no regular battalion of the
British Army has proved itself steadier on the field than this
magnificent corps--the gift to the Empire of a very gallant gentleman
who has since succumbed to wounds received while serving with it in the
field.[1]

Christmas brought with it leave and relaxation from the monotony of
drilling, but with the New Year we started brigade and divisional
manoeuvres, and we knew our stay on the Plain was drawing to a close.

We were again reviewed--in a drizzling rain this time--by the King on
February 4th, 1915, and on the following day--just six months after the
declaration of war--the First Canadian Division, complete in every
detail (horse, foot, and guns) entrained for France.

So secret had the departure been kept that people in the neighbouring
town of Salisbury knew nothing of the review or the entraining of the
troops till they were well on the high seas.

[Footnote 1: Major Hamilton Gault, referred to above, did not die of
wounds as first reported, but suffered the loss of a leg by amputation.]

After a very rough passage from Avonmouth the Division landed at St.
Nazaire in the Bay of Biscay, the last transport arriving some time in
the second week of February.

From there they were taken in box cars to that mysterious region known
as "the front," travelling forty men or eight horses to a car, a state
of affairs that one man complained "showed undue regard for horses."

But five whole battalions and a number of surplus officers who had
managed to get over to England supernumerary to their battalions were
left behind on the Plain as a base depot.

Amongst the latter were the writer and Begbie Lyte, and when they
rejoined a month or two later their battalion had been cut to pieces and
some twenty-five of the officers with whom they had trained were
casualties.

It is hard to imagine anything sadder than rejoining a battalion after
fighting such as that unless it is the saying of good-bye.

[Illustration: MANOEUVRES ON SALISBURY PLA