Adventures of a Despatch Rider

red magnificently, saying they were volunteers, and the women and children rushed us with the victorious cry, "We've downed the p'lice." We steamed out of the station while th

at the docks, which we reached just after dark, a small, t

the boat and the crowd on the wharf made patriotic noises until they were hoarse. At midnight our supporters had nearly all gone away. We who had seen our motor-cycles c

they had the same effect upon me as if they had been my o

t finding a p

we were so packed that when I tried to find a place to sleep I discovered there was not an inch of

med. But day brought a new horror. The sun poured down on us, and the smell from the horses packed clos

many times when extra hungry I have longed for an extra tin. But when you have lived on bully for three months (we have not been serv

ds evening we dropped anchor off Havre. On either side of the narrow entrance to the docks there were cheering crowds,

-we had not then learned to wait-we were marched off to a huge dim warehouse, where we

ry clank out into the night, and then returned sleepily to the wharf-side. Very late we found where we were to sleep, a gigantic series of wool warehouses. The warehouses were full of wool and the wool was full of fleas. We were very miserable, and a little bread and wine we managed to get hold of hard

our motor-cycles garlanded with flowers by two admiring flappers. Everywhere we went we were the gods of a very proper worship, though the shopkeepers in their admiration did not forget to charge. We spent a long, lazy day in lounging through the town, eating a lot of little meals and in visiting the public

the station and waited for the others. They did not come. I searched the station, but found nothing except a cavalry brigade entraining. I rushed about feverishly. There was no one I knew, no one who had heard anything of my company. Then I grew horribly frightened that I should be left behind. I pelted back to the old warehouses, but found everybody had left two hours ago. I thought

to the station I had searched in such fear. We found the motor-cycle, Johnson gave me some petrol, and

little trumpet shrilled, the long train creaked over the points, and we woke for a moment to murm

re fiercely hard. And we had not yet been served out with blankets. Still, we had to stick it for twenty-four hours. Luckily the train s

retty country and cheering crowds. At each level-crossing the curé was there to bless us. If we did not stop the people threw in fruit, which we vainly endeavoured to

know with what truth, that four aviators had been killed, and that our General, Grierson, had died of heart failure. At Ham they measured me against a lamp-post, and ceremoniously marked the place. The next time I passed through Ham I had no time to look for the mark! It began to grow dark, and the trees

staring carefully towards Germany and Belgium in the darkness, a thing to be defended at all costs, at all times, to be crossed with triumph and re

ed to the barracks, where we put down our kit and li

ged an excellent breakfast of bacon and eggs before establishing the Signal Office at the barracks. A few of us rode off to keep touch with the various brigades

her annoyed to lose our way out of the town, and were very short with some inquisitive small boys

ded round us as we devoured a magnificent omelette, endeavouring to incite us to do all sorts of things to the Ger

one pipe I brought with me I had dropped out of the train between Amiens and Landrecies. It had been quite a litt

n inoffensive, rather buxom-looking woman had been walking round the Square w

the rumble of guns. The old 108th passed by-huge good-natured guns, each drawn by eight gigantic plough-horses. I

leasant ride, because, apart from the mist and the darkness, I was stopped every few yards by sentries of the West Kents, a regiment which has now

That morning we rode with the column, which meant riding three-quarters of a mile or so and

murmuring when some officers refused to allow their men to accept these gifts. But a start had to be made some time, for promiscuous drinks do not increase marching efficiency. We, of course, could do p

find out about billeting arrangements, but by t

," and together we obtained a good wash. The people were vociferousl

ong the road to meet with a narrow escape from untimely death in the form of a car, which I tried to pass on the wrong side. In the evening we received our first batch of pay, and dining magnificently at a hotel, took tearfu

rose again just before dawn. We breakfasted hastil

riding four or five miles across rough country roads, endeavouring to time myself so as to reach the 14th column just when the S.O. was passing, then back again to the Division, riding up and dow

nd them in a village under the most embarrassing attentions. As for myself, while I was waiting, a curé photographed me, a woman rushed out and w

otel where the Staff lived. It was managed by a curiously upright old man in a threadbare frock-coat, bright check trousers, and carpet slippers. Nadine, his pretty da