rs unhurt, but came into hospital for an ingrowing toe
nail!

_Villeneuve_, 5 P.M.--Like a blithering idiot, I was so interested in
the Gunner's Diary of his birthday "in my hole" that I passed Villeneuve
Triage, and got out the station after! Had to wait 1-1/2 hours for a
train back, and got here eventually at 12. Collared four polite London
Scottish to carry my baggage, and found the Sister in charge of Train
Ambulance people.

I wish I could describe this extraordinary place. It is the Swindon of
France; a huge wilderness of railway lines, trains, and enormous
hangars, now used as camps and hospitals. Sister B. is encamped in a
shut-off corner of one of these sheds surrounded by London Scottish
cooking and making tea in little groups; they swarm here. I sleep
to-night in the same small bed in an empty cottage with a Sister I've
never seen before. We meal at a Convent French Hospital. I delivered my
"Very Urgent" envelope to the R.T.O. for the Director of Supplies, and
reported to Major ----, and after lunch had an hour's sleep on The Bed.
There are rows of enterics on stretchers in khaki in this shed, waiting
for motor ambulances to take them to Versailles No.-- G.H., being nursed
here meanwhile. There are also British prisoners (defaulters) penned in
in another corner, and French troops at the other end!

III.

On No.-- Ambulance Train (1)

FIRST EXPERIENCES

_October 13, 1914, to October 19, 1914_

"In lonely watches, night by night
Great visions burst upon my sight,
For down the stretches of the sky
The hosts of dead go marching by.

* * * * *

Dear Christ, who reignst above the flood
Of human tears and human blood,
A weary road these men have trod:
O house them in the home of God."

III.

On No.-- Ambulance Train (1).

FIRST EXPERIENCES.

_October 13, 1914, to October 19, 1914._

Ambulance Train--Under fire--Tales of the Retreat--Life on the Train.

_Tuesday, October 13th._--At last I am on the train, and have just
unpacked. There is an Army Sister and two Reserve, a Major ----, O.C.,
and two junior officers.

Don't know yet what messing arrangements are. We each have a bunk to
ourselves, with a proper mattress, pillow, and blankets: a table and
seat at one end, lots of racks and hooks, and a lovely little
washing-house leading out of the bunk, shared by th