I told the officers there of the purpose of my visit, that I was going up to the front line the next morning, and asked if they would telephone to one of the batteries and tell the O.C.that I should arrive some time in the middle of the night.

The Brigade Major of course tried to dissuade me, but I told him that I was going in any case, that he was not responsible for my actions, but that if he liked to make thing easier for me he could.

He quite understood the point, and telephoned to the 11th Battery.

I then went back to the reserve headquarters of the 4th Division in the town, and prepared myself for the journey.

When I had to make an early start in the morning, I always shaved the night (p.