in
Cairo, Alexandria or Luxor was unpleasant; but going to France meant a
chance of home leave, and it was a change. We were not so sure of home
leave being open, however, as the German spring offensive was still
going strong, the first word of which we got from a patrol bringing in a
written message by the Turks giving an accurate report of its initial
success. The Division, less the gunners who remained in Palestine, came
over in a convoy of seven ships escorted by Japanese T.B.D.'s. The
voyage was without incident, for which we were thankful, as those who
had not been already torpedoed in the Mediterranean did not wish to be,
and those who had been were not anxious for a second performance. So
Marseilles was reached safely on the 17th, the good ship _Omrah_ leading
the convoy up the channel.

Two days at Marseilles gave one the chance of seeing the place, finding
Cox's, and discovering that the restaurants there were much more
expensive than in Cairo. On the 19th we entrained, in spite of an
R.T.O., and started for the north to a destination unknown. We knew
little of the situation and the reports picked up on the journey were
not very encouraging. Once we were told we were for Versailles, to
defend Paris we surmised; however, Versailles was passed, and then we
were told Amiens had fallen. Still, when the train slowly crawled
through that city we knew things were not so bad. It was a cold journey,
but the railway people were obliging, and no matter how late the train
got, when we had a halt for a meal they gave us enough time. It was our
introduction to the amazing system of troop transport by rail in France.

In the end we arrived at Noyelle-sur-Mer, the "mer" was out of sight,
but a march of five miles or so brought us on the 22nd to St. Valery Sur
Somme, which is on the sea. There we went into billets, under command of
Lieut.-Colonel Neilson who rejoined from home leave.

Having spent some time at Ludd, handing in every article of ordnance
stores we possessed, except the clothes and equipment on the man, we now
were kept busy collecting it all again. In five days we had everything,
horses, limbers, field-cookers, Lewis guns, etc., the horses comparing
unfavourably with those left behind. The establishment for France was
much the same as for Palestine, the main difference being in the
transport supplied for Lewis guns and their ammunition. In France no
special mules are supplied; the whole load is carried in one