f the Solent as it was getting dark. In time a
pinnace came alongside, presumably a pilot came on board, so we up
anchor and are now moored inside the outer boom.

_December 4th._--As soon as it was daylight we began to move, and went
slowly up the Solent in a drizzle and thick mist; ships no end at
anchor all the way; past Netley Hospital facing great mud-flats; New
Forest stretching away to the left; Cowes in thick haze. When nearing
Southampton four tugs came alongside, two were attached to the bow,
the other two on guard crept along with us. At last the docks
appeared, we were hauled round by our tugs and went in stern first.
The four tugs then arranged themselves along our starboard side, got
their noses up against the "Aquitania's" ribs and butted her up
against the quay wall.

7 p.m.--I expected to get off hours ago. The Military Landing Officer
says the best he can do for me is to send me to Glasgow. I know what
Glasgow is like in a drizzle at this time of the year--"coals in the
earth and coals in the air," as some one says. It has rained all day,
is foggy and altogether British, unlike anything I have seen for a
long time. I can understand how our colonials come home and curse our
leaden skies.

_December 5th._--Sunday. We left the "Aquitania" at 10 last night,
many hundreds being left on the boat for discharge next day. They had
poured out of the ship by two big gangways the whole day long,
straight into the private station of the Cunard Line. In half an hour
we were all in our cots, round came an orderly asking what we would
have to drink, tea, cocoa, or oxo? I asked if that was his full list.
"Yes," he said. "No, thank you, I am going to sleep."

We reached Yorkhill Hospital, Glasgow, this forenoon, and found the
town in 2 inches of snow--real white snow too.

_December 7th._--Was examined by a Medical Board at 4.30 p.m. and just
managed to catch the 5 o'clock train for Aberdeen. Am now in Perth
where we have been kept standing for some time. The three men forming
my Board said I had a well-marked heart murmur, and all three solemnly
shook hands with me. Evidently their impression was that I was going
home to die. They do not know how much I have improved since I left
Gallipoli. I feel myself that I'll soon be at the Front again.

(Feeling ill and almost useless I had intended to ask for sick leave
from the A.D.M.S. a fortnight before I actually left.) On going to
H.Q. for this purpose I met Co