“We have spent the day ‘under company arrangements’:  a series of inspections in the field outside the barn.

“At 5.30 Colonel Best-Dunkley wished to see all officers and sergeant-majors at Headquarters Mess.  When we got there we adjourned to Battalion Orderly Room.  He kept us until after 7, discussing various matters of routine.  He seemed to have set his mind on purchasing a new band which was to cost L100 and for which officers should pay their share according to rank—­subalterns to pay L2 each.  But there was not a single person in favour of the idea!  The proposal was received in cold silence. (Everybody had agreed before the conference upon the attitude to be taken up!  I thought the whole affair a huge joke.  Plots and intrigues always appeal to me as exciting.) Then Captain Mordecai—­O.C.  C Company—­said that he did not think it worth it ’Since the war is nearly over.’  The Colonel did not like that idea at all!  He appealed to Major Brighten for his opinion; and Major Brighten urged that if we are to spend money like this it would be better spent in helping the men in some way.  Others pointed out that one band was sufficient, and said that they would rather pay 10s. each for the improvement of the present band.  Colonel Best-Dunkley blinked and twitched his nose in a disapproving manner.  Eventually it was decided that we should not get a new band, but that we should all pay 10s. towards the present band.  Colonel Best-Dunkley had set his mind on this band enterprise; I do not suppose he is at all pleased that it has not been taken up!  The officers are all congratulating themselves on their victory.  Colonel Best-Dunkley has announced that we must all see that the men have their equipment blancoed and polished until it sparkles.  I have no personal quarrel with Colonel Best-Dunkley myself yet—­in fact I have not yet exchanged a word with him—­but I cannot say that I am very favourably impressed.”

CHAPTER IV

MILLAIN

It was at Millain that I had my first personal interview with Colonel Best-Dunkley.  That interview is recounted in the following letter, dated June 13: 

" ...  The weather continues to be glorious:  too hot to do anything.  I am Orderly Officer to-day.  One of my duties as such is to inspect the billets.  They are scattered on all sides of the village, so quite an appreciable walk is entailed.  The Orderly Sergeant and I had a drink of milk at one farm.  We felt a little refreshed after that.  I mounted the guard with the Regimental Sergeant-Major. (Clements.) This afternoon he has been made Sergeant of the Transport, and has been succeeded as R.-S.-M. by Sergeant-Major Hoyle of B Company.  Sergeant Preston becomes Company Sergeant-Major of B Company.

“Yesterday the padre was appointed President of the Sports Committee, but, as the Colonel wanted to arrange everything on his own lines—­suggesting races in full pack, amongst other things!—­he has resigned to-day.