poured on the way back. I was drenched to the skin. I do not
think I have ever had such a drenching before. The ground was thick with
mud and slush. We were all horribly dirty. It was 2 p.m. when we got
back. I took off my things and had them dried by the fire. The people in
this billet are really very decent indeed. I went to bed for an hour.
Then tea. At 6 we had a lecture on the compass, by Major Brighten."

"June 23rd.

"Reveille was not quite so early as usual this morning. We did not march
off from here until 8 a.m. We then went, in battle-order, to the
training area. While there I saw, through my field-glasses, General Sir
Hubert Gough, Lieutenant-General Sir Herbert Watts, Major-General
Jeudwine, and Brigadier-General Stockwell, on horseback, together with a
whole crowd of staff-officers, on the crest of a hill some distance
away. They were too far off for their faces to be distinguishable; but I
knew that they were the above-mentioned generals because Major Brighten
told us yesterday that they were coming. They were inspecting the
training.

"The weather to-day has been very nice--sunshine, yet neither too hot
nor too cold. We got back at 2. Then lunch. I then went to the farm the
other side of the hill for some milk. Then tea. Then bombing. Then
dinner. Then letter-writing. Now bed!

"Would you mind sending me a Lancashire Fusilier cap badge? Excuse me
asking for something fresh in every letter, but Colonel Best-Dunkley has
conceived the brilliant idea that our battalion should set an example to
the rest of the Brigade--'lead the way,' as he calls it--by having cap
badges in our steel helmets as well as in our soft hats. Of course with
such devices we cannot fail to defeat the enemy next time we encounter
him! What a life!

"We are hoping, but scarcely daring to expect, that a somewhat easier
day will be ours to-morrow, Sunday!"

"June 24th.

"I did not get up until 9 this morning. Church parade was at 10. The
service was, of course, taken by Newman.... The service was held in the
field which is the Battalion parade ground. After the service the padre
had a communion service in a corner of the field for those who wished to
stay. About twenty men stayed, and the following officers--Colonel
Best-Dunkley, Allen, Gratton, Giffin and myself. The padre had a
miniature oak altar, containing a crucifix, with two lighted candles, on
a table.

"After this Colonel Best-Dunkley walked down the lane with us a