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[Page 40]
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all along the line were soldiers leaving the train to join their several units - I had a great longing to talk to all the Australians I saw, and at least tell them that I too came from their Home-Land.
On arrival at Abbeville I was met by W.A.A.C. officials, and relieved of my draft, some of whom I found had to go on some distance further. It was with a good deal of regret that I said good-bye to these, for between us there had grown up in our day and night's foreign experience quite a feeling of comradeship and quite contrary to the correctness of military rule, they said they wished I could remain their commanding officer.
After reporting to the Chief Controller, whose Head Quarters are at Abbeville, it was arranged that I should go to a camp about three miles out, to be initiated into rationing methods as they prevailed in France. My first experience of hut life was by no means comfortable. The weather was cold and my only furniture was a service iron wash stand, a chair and a bed. Grey army blankets were my covering, and when I awoke in the morning the top was quite wet from the moisture that had penetrated the roof.
Having a severe cold as a result of the air raid shelter I was feeling anything but happy, but the thought of the soldiers in the trenches gave me courage and I determined not to let physical discomfort hamper my resolve.
After a week's experience there, seeing the women at their work, cooking, draughtsmanship, and clerical, I received instructions to proceed to Boulogne. The Chief Controller told me that the unit to which I had been appointed had been considerably neglected on account of the illness of the Administrator, and was difficult by reason of its being situated in the part of the town, where discipline was not so easily enforced.
I left by the evening train, and in my carriage were several officers who joined straight from the fighting, two of whom had not had leave for three years, and their excitement was intense at the prospect of getting to London once more. At the station I was met by the Official Landing Officer, who now seemed like an old friend