r again for a week.

"Cheer up--all's well that ends well!"

And in a P.S. I said, "I cannot guarantee even field-cards regularly."

My diary tells the story of these last days until I packed it up with
my kit which I handed in when we reached our concentration area in front
of the Cafe Belge on the right of the Vlamertinghe-Ypres road on July
29.

"July 25th.

"We marched off from Watou at 9.30 p.m. We got along very slowly; the
North Lancs in front kept halting. However, it was a nice cool evening.
We got to Query Camp at 1 a.m. We had dinner and then went to bed in
tents at 2.20. Allen and I have a tent to ourselves."

"July 26th.

"Breakfast in bed. Up 10.30. At 11.30 Beesley, Telfer, Sergeant Donovan
and I went to the 39th Division Headquarters in C Camp in a wood near
by. We saw Major-General Cuthbert while we were there. We were sent to
the 39th Division model of the Ypres battlefield where we discussed the
operations with the officers of the 1/6th Cheshires on our left. We got
back at 1.30 p.m. and had lunch.... Took the afternoon easy; studied
maps, etc.... To bed 9.30."

"July 27th.

"Inspections and explanation of scheme in the morning. In the afternoon
I went, with Sergeant Baldwin, to reconnoitre the trench on the right of
the main road between Vlamertinghe and Ypres, where we are to spend 'XY
night'! It was a very hot day. Coming back we (and also Sergeant-Major
Preston) got a lorry all the way to Brandhoek. I got back at 4 p.m....
I wrote two or three letters and then had dinner. To bed at 9.30. At
10.15 a zeppelin came over and dropped a big bomb a few hundred yards
away, causing a loud explosion. We got up and stood outside the tents
looking for the zeppelin; but we could not see it, although there were a
whole crowd of search-lights trying to get on to it."

"July 28th.

"Up 8 a.m. Parade 9 a.m. Drill and explanation of campaign. At 12 noon,
Major Brighten lectured all officers and N.C.O.'s on the forthcoming
battle. He closed with an eloquent peroration in which he said that,
although our little bit is only part of very large operations, our
holding the Gravenstafel Ridge may help to end the war and sway the
destiny of the world! In the afternoon I went into Poperinghe. It was
extremely hot. I had a cold bath at the Divisional Baths and felt very
refreshed by it. I met Gaulter of the King's Own on the same job. He
said that he was not looking forward to the push. His battalion ar