“Dear Floyd,

“Many thanks for your last letter.  So you consider that you are likely to become a casualty in the near future.  I hope not.  Though, if such an event should take place, I hope it will not be serious and will involve a sojourn in England for at least six months.

“I will order the Marriott at once.  I decline to accept it as off the debt I owe you.  It will do as a twenty-first birthday present, as I have received no news re Lovat Fraser.  As soon as the book comes I will forward it on.

“Teddy[F] and myself had a glorious cycle ride yesterday.  We rode to town, took the train to Ashley, then rode to Knutsford via Mobberley.  At Knutsford we had tea and then proceeded to Pickmere where we had a row; then on to Great Budworth, Arley, Rostherne and Ashley.  The country was glorious, a fine day, good roads, midsummer and Cheshire—­the combination needs beating.

“I may say that I am extremely pleased at Churchill going to the Ministry of Munitions.

“Both Teddy and myself intend getting our photos taken this week, and I will forward copies of both to Middleton Junction.

“Best wishes,
“Yours,
“KENNETH MARTIN.”

The Marriott was destined to have a curious history.  As these pages will show, I got my “Blighty” in a fortnight all right.  Meanwhile the book was on its way from England.  It arrived after I had left the shores of France behind, me.  I never received it.  Kenneth Martin visited me in hospital at Worsley Hall in August and told me that he had sent it.  I had to tell him that it had not reached me.  When I returned to the Battalion in the spring of 1918, Padre Newman informed me that a book had come out for me after I had been wounded, that he had read it with much interest, and that it was now in the custody of Captain J. C. Latter, M.C.  Latter was one of the original 2/5th officers who had been wounded in 1916 and who returned to the Battalion immediately after the Third Battle of Ypres, in August, 1917, and succeeded Reginald Andrews as Adjutant.  But when Padre Newman told me this Captain A. H. G. Griggs, M.C., was Adjutant and Latter was away with Sir Herbert Plumer in Italy.  However, Latter returned once more in the summer of 1918, and mentioned that he had a book belonging to me; but he disappeared again—­first on to the Brigade Staff and then to a Staff job further away—­as suddenly as he had reappeared.  I did not see him again until we were both once more in civilian clothes, and I called at the Barracks at Bury one August afternoon in 1919.  He again mentioned the Marriott, remarking that he had discovered it in his kit in August, 1917, and had not the faintest idea how it had got there!

FOOTNOTE: 

[7] Edward James Martin, Second-Lieutenant in the Seaforth Highlanders, afterwards killed in action, December 1917.

CHAPTER XII

THE CITY AND THE TRENCHES