“As soon as it was 2 a.m. we set off back.  Going back is generally considered the most dangerous of all; it is then that most of the casualties occur.  When we were going along one winding communication trench shells began to burst in front of us right in our course.  We bent down and dashed through the hundred yards or so which these shells were sweeping as fast as we could go.  It was very hot, but we did not trouble about that; that did not matter; to get safely past the shells was the important thing.  We got through all right, and we managed to get all the way back to the Prison without a single casualty.  I can tell you we felt very happy when we were safely inside.  To think that one should look to the cells of a prison as a haven of refuge!

“In Lieutenant Alexander’s bombing raid five German prisoners were captured—­they are in here now—­and three killed.  Alexander sustained no casualties whatever, and got back safely.

“We had breakfast at 3 a.m. and I went to bed about 4 a.m.  I rose at 12 this morning.  At breakfast we learnt some very good news.  To-morrow we are leaving here and going into rest billets a long way behind the line for some time.  Everybody is very happy indeed about it; I think we shall have a fine time there.  So you have absolutely nothing to worry about now for quite a long time....”

“Things are very quiet to-day.  We had our usual gas parade outside this afternoon.

“Latterly all the men have been walking about with a windy expression on their faces; now everybody looks gay in anticipation of the time in front of us.  Don’t you think I am really exceedingly lucky?  I do.”

FOOTNOTE: 

[2] Story of the 55th Division, by Rev. J. O. Coop (page 25).

CHAPTER III

ENTER BEST-DUNKLEY

The following letter, written on June 12, at Millain, recounts my first impressions of the colonel whose name figures on the title-page of this book: 

“We are now in rest billets a long way behind the line.  I write to narrate to you the journey.

“On Sunday (June 10) I went to bed about 10 p.m., and had only been in bed half an hour when a very intense battle appeared to have broken out on our right.  A violent artillery duel was in progress, with the usual accompaniments.  The thunder of the guns continued for quite a long time.  I think there must have been something big on:  either a further advance of Plumer’s Army or a counter-attack by the Crown Prince Rupprecht.  It was a big row.

“Apropos of Sir Herbert Plumer, the victor of Messines:  we were in his Second Army until that battle; now we have been transferred to Sir Hubert Gough’s Fifth Army.  I was amused when I heard Priestley telling his servant that we had moved into General Gough’s Army; the servant replied ’Oh, he’s a fighting man, isn’t he, sir?  We’re in for something big now!’ (General Gough had the reputation of being ‘a fire eater.’)