“I got up at 2.30 a.m. this morning, and with Sergeant Clews’s working party filled in the remaining shell-holes (outside Hasler House).  We had a moderately quiet time.  Only about three shells burst anywhere near us the whole time.  Yet we were working in broad daylight!  We got back at 5.45 and I then went to bed again.  I had breakfast in bed.  Then some post arrived:  a letter from Father dated July 16 and the enclosed from Norman Floyd.  As I expected, he, too, is now in the Army; has been for some months.  He is in the 74th Training Reserve Battalion, and is thinking of going in for a commission.  I have advised him to do so—­in a letter which I have just written to him.

“I got up at midday and had lunch.  The afternoon I took easy.  The padre was in for tea.  While we were having tea newspapers arrived.  Captain Andrews opened the Daily Mail and exclaimed with horror:  ’Good heavens!  Churchill’s been appointed Minister of Munitions!’

“‘Hurrah!’ I exclaimed, nearly tumbling off my seat in my excitement.

“‘Good God!  How awful!’ dolefully exclaimed the padre, looking at me in amazement that I should express satisfaction at such a catastrophe.  ‘What?  Are you pleased to hear that Churchill is in office again?’ inquired he and Dickinson in surprise!

“‘Rather! he’s one of our two most brilliant statesmen,’ I replied.

“Thereupon an argument began and continued throughout tea.  I must say I never admired Lloyd George more than I do at this moment when, in face of most bitter public opposition, he has had the courage to give office to Churchill.  I admire him for it.

“The new appointments are certainly of a sensational nature.  Carson leaves the Admiralty and enters the War Cabinet as Minister of Reconstruction (whatever that may mean!).  Montagu becomes Secretary of State for India in Austen Chamberlain’s place.  Then the most startling thing of all—­the wonderful Sir Eric Geddes becomes First Lord of the Admiralty!  That is very significant indeed.  The appointment of that extraordinary production of the war to the Admiralty at this particular moment is not, I think, unconnected with the forthcoming operations.  I leave you to surmise what I mean.  Churchill has now once more set foot upon the ladder, despite popular prejudice.  Watch him now.  He will not rest until he has mounted to the top.  It is really delightful.  How angry everybody will be!  Do, please, pull their legs about it for me!  But watch also Sir Eric Geddes.  He is one of the most remarkable men of our time—­general, admiral, statesman!

“I am rather amused at the change in the Royal Name:  our Royal Family is now to be known as the Royal House of Windsor!  It does strike me as pandering somewhat to popular prejudice.  That King George should change his name to Windsor cannot change the fact of his ancestry; he is still a member of the Royal House of Coburg, to which King Albert of Belgium and King Manoel of Portugal belong:  no legal document can alter the facts of heredity! not that I think any the worse of him because he is a Coburg.  However, the Royal House of Windsor will be peculiarly the British Royal Family and will probably marry amongst the British nobility.  To that I have no objection whatever, as I have said before.