of the Army. There will be a revolt one of these days
against the fatuity of this eternal filling up of forms for no
conceivable purpose.

It is not only myself, but many of my comrades who are bored by
the War. To my mind there are only four really interesting
branches in the Army: (1) Flying Corps; (2) Heavy Artillery; (3)
Tanks, and (4) Intelligence. It must be intense reaction against
the drab monotony of life at the Front that is responsible for
the outbreak of frivolity that is said to have been the leading
characteristic of life in London and elsewhere of late. The
Englishman doesn't like thinking; if he did, he would not be the
splendid fighting man that he is.

In literature taste had gone to the dogs long before the War, and
it seems to me that the War has hastened it on its downward path.
It does seem to me a tragic pity that no great and inspiring work
has sprung to birth in England from the contemplation of what the
men of British race have achieved in this War, enduring such
depressing conditions with so much fortitude and doing such
glorious deeds whenever there is a chance for action.

_November 29th, 1916._

More boredom and an incredible amount of figuring, until I loathe
the very sight of pencil and paper. Thanks for parcels. Everyone
is so kind that it afflicts me with a sense of shame. Not that
any amount of gifts is too lavish for the brave men in the
trenches, but for "peace soldiers," like yours truly, it is very
different. I am at present living in a beautiful chateau at a
perfectly safe distance from the Front, in very pleasant country,
with a motor-car and two horses at my disposal and every
conceivable luxury. And then one is asked about the hardships
that one endures! It really is too absurd. I am by no means the
only one who feels like this, but I do think it is worse for a
Celtic temperament than for an Anglo-Saxon one.

At last there seems to be a chance of escape from this luxurious
life, for a circular has just come to hand from the O.C., A.S.C.,
of the Division, intimating that a number of transfers per month
from the A.S.C. to really fighting units has been sanctioned by
the War Office, together with a form to be filled up by officers
desiring to transfer. Of