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[Page 101]
What a pity one is a colonial sometimes. We have had several days with sunshine here but even though sun is bright the landscape is clouded with mists. Such is the manner of England.
12-11-18 Tuesday
Armistice was signed 11 am yesterday. I am desirous to see how London takes the news. I apply for 48 hrs leave the longest allowed to colonial troops but decide to commence my leave today. In all I take 5½ days an extension of 48 hrs was allowed & the balance taken. Left by 4.10 pm & arrived at about 7 pm. made friends on train with a naval officer & went with him to Chandos Hotel. Drinks are impossible bar is ever full to brim but few are drunk. We then adjourned to a small little cafe in Greek St kept by a man called Gustave where the food is excellent though the appointments are not on the same level. Here we consumed many bottles of champagne. Then we go into the street & strive to make our way through the crowded square. There is a dance at Regent Palace Hotel but crowd is too dense to approach it & we go to Cafe Royal only to find no admission. However by various ruses & lies we stepped in. Inside the room was a howling seething riot shouting & cheering. All more or less drunk the women generally more. The atmosphere was revolting & I escaped as soon as possible with an English captain of the Gloucester Regiment. In wandering around the streets we found two distressed women who had not been able to get anything to eat & instead of advising them my friend in a quixotic humour went from restaurant to restaurant until we found & he insisted to my annoyance on seeing them to their train. Had they been young & pretty perhaps I should not have minded but one was at least 50. I then wandered in & out & among the crowd which was noisy &