He looks more than twenty-seven.  When war broke out he was a lieutenant.  It is interesting to note that he was educated at a military school in Germany! (And he had travelled a good deal in the Far East.  ‘When I was in China’ was one of his favourite topics of conversation.) I have not yet spoken to the man, so I am not yet in a position to judge him myself.  I will tell you my own opinion of him when I have had a little experience of him.  I may just remark that an officer observed in the mess this morning that he supposed that there were some people who liked the Kaiser, but he was sure that there was not a single soul who liked Best-Dunkley!  That is rather strong.

“Well our train moved off at about 3 p.m.  We travelled through pleasant country to a little town which I cannot, of course, name. (Esquelbeck.) Here we had tea.  I may mention that this place was just over the frontier—­that is to say ‘Somewhere in France.’

“Refreshed by our tea (for the preparation of which Padre Newman was mainly responsible), we began our long march at 7.15 in the evening.  We marched to a village ten miles away (to Millain via Zeggers, Erkelsbrugge, Bollezeele, and Merekeghem).  Colonel Best-Dunkley had gone on by himself; he left Major Brighten to carry on for the remainder of the journey.  We had the band with us.  I enjoyed the march immensely.  It was a beautiful evening and the pretty villages through which we marched looked at their best.  One thing which I have particularly noticed in France and Belgium is this:  that a village, however small, seems to possess a large and magnificent church.  I have not seen a single village in Belgium or France where the church is not the most prominent object.  And I think that the villages are much healthier and prettier, and in every way much more inviting, than the towns.  It is in such a village with such a church in pretty rural surroundings that I am now stationed.  Darkness fell while we were on the march.  We got here about 10.30, feeling considerably tired and ready for bed.  Talbot Dickinson had been here a day or two and had arranged about billets.  So the men were immediately shown into their billets.  I am billeted in a farm-house; I have a nice little bedroom all to myself, and sleep in a civilian bed.  So I am very well off.  What do you say?  I have nothing to grumble about as regards my quarters.  B Company is billeted in the two barns belonging to this farm:  two platoons in each barn.  The Company parade in a delightful field the other side of the barns.  There are three officers’ messes:  Headquarters and two of two combined companies.  B and A Companies mess together in a house about two minutes’ walk from this farm.  Battalion Orderly Room is in a house about five minutes’ walk from here.  The other companies are in other parts of the village.  General Stockwell and the remainder of the Brigade have not yet arrived, but they will be following on shortly.  I am very happy here.  The weather has been delightful, and the country looks fine.  The trees here are very tall indeed.  There was a heavy downpour of rain at tea-time:  the first real rain we have had while I have been in France this time.