General Currie with the assistance of heaven, was
a theological question which I had no time to go into during the war.
When our Division was marching into Germany, after I was knocked out
of the campaign, the dear old signallers used to patch up the Clino,
even making new parts for it, in order that Canon Scott's car might
get into Germany. Alas! the poor thing, like the one-horse shay, went
to pieces finally one day and had to be left at Mons. During those
last busy months, I do not know how I could have got on without it.

As I was a bit under the weather at this time my friend, General
Thacker, invited me to go and stay with him at his headquarters in the
Chateau at Berles, where I was given a charming room looking out on
the garden. I found myself in the midst of the artillery brigades who
were now at rest, and very pleasant it was to see them away from the
unwholesome gun-pits where they were usually to be found. I could (p. 261)
lie on the grass in the garden, read one of Trollope's novels and
listen to the birds overhead. A walk through the wood led to a huge
field of scarlet poppies, which, when the sun shone upon it, made a
blaze of colour which I have never seen equalled. As one approached
it, one could see the red glow light up the stems of the trees as
though they were aflame.

We had many boxing and baseball contests, which roused great excitement,
but the crowning glory of the time was the Divisional sports which
were held in a large field at a place called Tincques on the St. Pol
road. A grandstand and many marquees had been erected, and the various
events gave great delight to the thousands of spectators. In the
evening our concert party gave a performance on the stage in the open
air, which was witnessed by a large and enthusiastic audience. After
it was all over, I unexpectedly met my airman friend, Johnny Johnson,
who told me that he had been waiting a long time to take me up in his
machine. I explained to him that, owing to our headquarters having
moved away to Le Cauroy, I thought it was too far off to get in touch
with him. In my secret heart, I had looked upon my removal as a
special intervention of Providence on my behalf, but Johnny was not
disposed, however, to allow any difficulty to stand in the way, so it
was arranged that he should send for me at Berles the following day
and take me to the headquarters of the 13th Squadron at
Izel-les-Hameaux. There was nothing for it but to jump with a