following
sergeants in B Company: Sergeant-Major Preston, Quartermaster-Sergeant
Jack, Sergeant Donovan, Sergeant Butterworth, Sergeant Williams, and the
three I have mentioned above. I think the most competent N.C.O. in my
platoon, apart from Dawson, who does not command a section, and Baldwin,
who really belongs to 7th Platoon, is Corporal Pendleton. My servant is
Critchley. He is, of course, in my platoon. He is a very obliging man. I
am perfectly satisfied with him. Officers' servants also act as runners.
I think it is a bit thick on the part of the Colonel making them go on
parade; it means that they have very little time to themselves.

"The B Company officers are: Captain Andrews (Officer Commanding),
Lieutenant Halstead (Second-in-Command) who is Company Commander while
Captain Andrews is on leave, Lieutenant Giffin (a Rossall boy who, with
the traditional Rossall touch, tries to play the 'senior sub'
part--always ticking one off and making personal remarks),
Second-Lieutenant Allen, Second-Lieutenant Gratton, and myself. Gratton
was a private in Gallipoli, and so is a decent sort. Allen is very
orthodox and proper, and gets very 'windy' about being on parade in
time; but he is a good sort and we are great friends. He comes from
Buxton way somewhere. Gratton comes from the south; he was in the Royal
Fusiliers as a Tommy. Halstead comes from Haslingden; he is a very
decent, calm, fellow. He is married. Giffin comes from Burnley. He is
about my age. Gratton is twenty-seven. The two latter were on leave when
I arrived.

"Two new officers have recently arrived from Scarborough--Walsh and
Hickey. They arrived there from cadet battalions just before I came out
here. They are in A Company, which is at present commanded by Captain
Briggs, Captain Cochrane being on leave. Lieutenant Ronald, an Argyll
and Sutherland Highlander attached to this Battalion--a decent sort--is
also in A Company; he has just been on leave. Leave comes round in turn
throughout the officers of the Battalion; it will be a long time before
my turn comes: perhaps when the war is over! Horace Beesley of D Company
is very nice with me; he is an awfully decent sort. Lieutenant Joye, who
is in command of Headquarters Company, is an amusing fellow; he is large
and fat, with yellow hair and a smiling face. Colonel Best-Dunkley is
always going for him; he had him under open arrest for something paltry
the other day! Lieutenant West is Assistant Adjutant