Hell of a Time by Philip Owen Ayton

Author:Philip Owen Ayton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Text Publishing Company
Published: 2019-02-14T16:00:00+00:00

* * *

* Minenwerfer: a German mortar.

* Illegible in the manuscript.

* Railway Operating Division.

* Casualty Clearing Station.

* Commanding Royal Engineers.

* Marching Orders.

* Officers’ Training Corps.

PART IV

Diary (continued)

On notes taken from day to day

Commencing Oct. 23rd, 1917

By jumping motor lorries via Steenvoorde and Poperinghe I got lifts right to Café Belge. Found the Coy still there and gave them a great surprise as they had been notified from Div. that I had been evacuated to Hospital seriously ill.

Saw my O.C. and he promised to do all he could for me. He gave me a letter to take to C.R.E. and give to the Colonel. Watty being runner guided me over to C.R.E. and I gave the note to the Colonel himself. After reading it he at once rang up Div. H.Q. and got on to Staff, explaining my case to them.

After a confab. Div. promised to look into the matter and would ring up result next day. The Colonel was very decent to me and promised that in the event of me not going to England, that he would give me a direct commission in the Pioneers almost at once. I went back to sleep at my old Coy’s camp much relieved and satisfied with my trip.

The letter that my O.C. wrote to C.R.E. was a stunner. Next morning while I was having breakfast a special runner came over from C.R.E. telling me to return to Caestre at once and that I was to go to England as originally intended. I got back to Caestre that afternoon and reported to Orderly Room. They had also been notified that I was to go and the other chap was to stand down. I was quite happy again.

Still no word of our passes and the next couple of days were very miserable, continually raining and very cold. Our rations were very poor too. We never had enough and had to buy a lot to keep ourselves going. I was getting better every day, though was still pretty weak from my illness.

At last on the night of the 27th our passes came through so we left Caestre at 2 a.m. Arrived at Calais at 7 a.m. and marched through the town down to the Rest Camp. Stayed there all day. We were well fenced in and were not allowed leave so had to mope about the camp all day.

On the morning of the 29th we marched up to the Stn again and entrained for Boulogne. Caught the boat over to Folkestone that afternoon and arrived in London at 9.30 p.m. Back in England once more. Reported at Horseferry Rd next morning, was paid and fitted out with new clothes which I badly needed and sent on 10 days’ leave. I didn’t expect this so you may be sure it was a pleasant surprise.

Went out to Allcotts’ and gave them a surprise as I hadn’t told them I was coming over. Again made their place my H.Q. during my leave. Went to Kensington and saw Ivy Mac that afternoon.

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