Cocks letter diary, 1916-1919 / Verner Cocks - Page 499
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[Page 499]
1.
France
Valines
12/2/19
Dear Dad,
Have just arrived back from Paris. I didn't have leave I just took four days with two other chaps & we got on OK. There are many chaps who have not seen Paris & it is a case of now or never. Proper leave is practically impossible & if anyone is keen on seeing the place you have to clear out & chance the resut. Of course lots of things are overlooked & one is pretty safe. Paris is easily 100 miles from here & it is the easiest thing on earth to get there by train by travelling by night to avoid the Military Police who are on the station. The trains are the slackest things I know & one could trave all over France without a ticket or pass. In the military one learns to be a schemer & by a bit of scheming & dodging one can board & get off trains & platforms easily. Just outside Paris we hopped off the train & got out by a side street. You have probably heard