1 Stockcross 23.ix.16 Dear Em, I'm not quite sure how many
letters I have to acknowledge- I think
Win's was the last. Will you please
do the job for me. This I'm afraid
sounds awfully ungrateful but
it isn't really as you know how
I enjoy getting letters - Will you
please tell Aunt Fanny I hope to
write soon. I was very glad to
get Mothers but so sorry to hear
Father had a bad turn. I hope he's
all right now and all arrived
safely. As I said to Mother last
on Thursday night an officer was 2 was wanted from 182 to take a
party to Beskill - my luck was
all out and I was the only Officer
in the battery who was not going
on leave - the other two having gone out
for a bike ride, so of course of
it fell to me - you can't imagine
how disgusted I was - as I had promised
to go. Yesterday morning I got
up about 6.0 and started on
the weary journey. - Five changes &
I don't think even the D&S. ER
Shillelah branch could have taken
7 hours covering I suppose about 70
miles - but the South Eastern &
Clapham did it all right.
however in due we got to Beshill
soon after 3.0 - The men
voted for a tram to Coodeu so
we waited for one. The trams
are very diminutive and the first
one that came was nearly full
already, however after a little
gymnastics, the four r ty three men
and myself packed on nearly
leaving the conductress behind
in the process. By the time
I had handed them over at
Coodeu I found time had slipped
by in a nasty way and it was
well after 4.0 and the tram
gone. I had a haversack at the
SE & C station and my probable train
left LB & SC R station at 4.31,
the station was some two miles from 3 Coodeu and I expected a wire
at Beshill P.O. from Miss Bauer
was to whom I had wired my
earlier - to finally decide my
movements. I did a sort
of walk run h got haversack,
guessed contents of telegram and
ran hard towards the LB & SC R
station; at 4.30'30" I shouted
to a passing motor for a seat,
flew to station rushed down steps
knocking astonished inspectors
left and right and got on one
end of platform in time to see
train d moving off the other end,
however there my luck was in
as I discovered a rail motor. left
in 6 minutes which sometimes
caught the Victoria train at
Eastbourne. I talked to the conductor
and we just got to Eastbourne in
time for me to nip across into
the Victoria train, a fast one
non-stop arriving 6.40. I had
left a wire with the conductor
giving instructions for wire from
Miss Bauer to be forwarded to
Victoria and on arrival found
Mrs Temple couldn't have me
for the night so went to Paddington. I think Father only believed a
small part of what I told him
at Sussex Gardens - perhaps it
will help to convince him when
I say that a regulation is out. 4 that all officers up to rank
of Mj Major(!!) when registering
in an hotel have to give their
station and name of commanding
Officer!!! Thank goodness at
least a few people in Ireland know
how to behave in public. Having
this sort of 'brand of the uniform'
wherever one goes irritates me
horribly- I remarked at the hotel
that it didn't say much for the
Army with which sentiment they
I think fully agreed. - I had to
leave a deposit at the Office
it's a wonder Des they didn't
make me pay for the meals
as I took them! AnyWway I had a real
grand slam dinner - I thought
it would be my last for some time so I
went straight ahead. 9 courses
I think there were - I thought
I'd be laid out in the morning
but I wasn't - D so I had a
small slam breakfast. I quite
expected that would do for me
but I'm still going strong (5.30)
I hope Mother won't be horrified
I'm afraid I'm a regular
German. 5 On arrival here I find that
the advance party and guns are
leaving Monday, and the battery
Thursday. I'm teasing the dentist
to get him to finish me off tomorrow. Today is a perfectly heavenly
day, the weather altogether has
been grand since the rain. I hope it's the same with you. Yours in love Charles.