“We got up for dinner at 8.  Captain Andrews had then returned from leave.  When Halstead got back he was jolly glad to find that he was relieved from the responsibilities and worries of a company commander.  But Captain Andrews is going to be second-in-command of the Battalion in the forthcoming battle, as Major Brighten, who is now home on leave, may not be there; so Halstead will have to command B Company in the operations, and this scheme is to hold good, with regard to all schemes and rehearsals concerning the operations.”

“June 29th.

“We are working very hard just now, and it is all I can do to find time to write letters; one’s natural inclination is to sleep when one has an afternoon free after a strenuous morning, but some letters must be written, so I must write.

“Yesterday morning we rose at 8.30 and had breakfast.  Then we received notification that all officers and N.C.O.’s were to parade at the aerodrome at 10.30 for a lecture.  So we walked there.  There was not much of a lecture.  A Royal Flying Corps officer explained some aeroplane signals to us, and then an aeroplane went up and exhibited them.  Then we were told that we could dismiss.  So we walked back again.  We all thought it a ‘wash out’ having us up there just for that.  Colonel Best-Dunkley stayed behind to have a fly.  I will not repeat the hopes which were expressed by certain of his battalion!  He flew over our village and dropped a message at Battalion Headquarters.  All went off without any accidents!

“We had lunch when we got back.  Then I censored two hundred letters.  We had a thunder-storm and a heavy fall of rain in the evening.  I went to bed soon after dinner.  There was no mail yesterday.

“This morning we rose at 5.30.  We marched off at 6.30 and did the Brigade stunt again on the training area.  I am getting rather fed up with Giffin on parade.  He nearly landed me in the soup this morning by his dictatorial interference; he seems to like to make one realize that he is a full lieutenant!  When I had got Topping’s section down on to the road just before the village he signalled for me to bring it back again.  The result was a ‘box-up,’ and we got right behind our wave, whereas if we had gone straight on we would have kept in line; but, fortunately, I got right again in a few minutes.  We finished at 12.40.  Then all officers had to attend a conference with the General again.  General Stockwell was very pleased with the show, and had no complaints.  I am getting to like General Stockwell very much; his face is not unlike that of the great Sir David Beatty.

“We felt jolly tired after it all.  It was hot and tiring walking back.  We got back at 3 p.m.  Then lunch.  Giffin had the decency to apologize for his nastiness.  ’I hope you did not mind me cursing you this morning, Floyd,’ he said.  I replied that I did not, but said that I thought that it would have been better for me to go on when I had got on the road.  Of course,