Item 04: Memoirs of a Colonial Boy by Robert Joseph Stewart, ca. 1971 - Page 239
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[Page 239]
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had to offer, regardless of expense: time was the only thing we were short of. Despite Zepplin [Zeppelin] raids, rationing and other restrictions it was still a pretty good place in which to have fun. So we dined and wined at the leading restaurants, drove around in taxis and hired cars seeing, the principal historic buildings or visiting other tourist sights, and went to some of the leading theatre shows, afternoon and night. The "star turn" was our going late, one of the nights, to Drury Lane theatre, where a very popular musical comedy "Razzle Dazzle" was showing, with a brilliant American actress, Shirley Kellog, in the lead. We were informed that all seats were occupied except the Royal Box, which would be available after 9 p.m. for seven guineas. So we accepted this offer, and received some rather black looks for our late entry, not being Royalty. The very spacious "box" was really a well-furnished sitting room, with a dignified footman in attendance, movable plush easy chairs, and a private entrance into the wings of the stage. For the three of us and our three lady friends, the seven guineas was not an extravagant total price to pay for such luxury.
Back at Larkhill we manoeuvred over the grassy, rolling, treeless downs and marched down the pleasant leafy country lanes, behind our brass band playing lilting marches, to picturesque neighbouring villages, all in warm sunny Summer weather. At other times we remained all day, at or near the camp, for kit inspections or tiresome close-order drill.
Wartime restrictions under the Defence of the Realm Act (DORA) forbade the use of petrol for joy-riding. Almost all Army transport was horsed, so there was not much motor traffic, even on the main roads, which were of white stone macadam: bitumen-surfaced roads were yet to come. In our leisure hours we visited the ancient stones at Stonehenge in the adjoining valley and walked to the near-by historic little town of Amesbury, often to have an evening meal, or just a drink at the hoary old "George" hotel. Sometimes we journeyed six miles south to the old city of Salisbury to catch the fast express train to London, on week-end leave granted once a month, or