I felt kind of uncomfortable with my boots and clothes plastered up
with mud, but the good lady said, "Don't 'e mind, come in, bless you; I've
'ad soldiers afore. The last one 'e said as 'ow he couldn't sleep it were
so quiet 'ere."

I had a wash (this is Friday night), the first since Wednesday morning.
The idea of having as much water as you want, without having to go a half
mile over a swamp, pleased me so much that I used about six basinsful in
the scullery.

When the lady of the house asked us _what_ we would _like_ to eat, we both
fainted. I'm afraid we're going to get spoiled here. Couldn't sleep at
first. Cold sheets and having all my clothes off--too great a strain! Had
breakfast and then drove our cars to the canal, where we scrubbed and
washed them down inside and out.

This afternoon I've been into every shop I could find, chiefly to talk to
people who are not soldiers. Even went into the church to look around and
listened to the parrotlike description of the place by the sexton.

Everybody is happy, and although it has rained ever since we have been
here, we haven't noticed it yet. I may say there are four or five kids,
and the whole house could be packed into our front room. Still, "gimme a
billet any time."

-------------------------------------

I have just received the news that I have been given a Second Lieutenancy
in the Motor Machine Gun Service, Royal Field Artillery, and I go into
camp at Bisley at once. I am very glad that before being an officer I have
been a private, because I now have the latter's point of view. I am going
to try hard to be a good officer; promotion always means more work and
responsibility,--so here goes.

I have been very busy lately training my new section, and we are now part
of the 12th Battery, Motor Machine Guns, 17th Division British
Expeditionary Force, leaving to-day for the "Great Adventure."

Somewhere in France. At last we are here. We landed at a place the name of
which I am not allowed to mention, and were then taken by a guide to a
"Rest Camp" about two miles from the docks. If they had called it a
garbage dump I shouldn't have been surprised. You would be very much
surprised with the France of to-day. Everybody speaks English; smart khaki
soldiers in thousands everywhere.

Already I have seen men who have been gassed and the hospitals here are
full of wounded. Our troops are arriving all day and night and marching
away. English mone