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[Page 6]
-5-
were in progress, I broke away for half an hours walk to Plymouth Hoe where once walked the Gallants of England. It was like new wine, to drink in the delight of its surroundings, and feel myself on shore once more with the surety that all was well. At half past four we left the station, much too late to get the benefit of day-light for the pretty railway journey through "Glorious Devon". So quickly night came that beautiful Autumn evening, and even before it closed in, the conductor came along to see that in accordance with printed instructions in every carriage, that our blinds were drawn because of Air raid menace. That was our first introduction to precautionary measures due to War. It was a fast train and at half past nine we pulled up at Paddington station. All the way I wondered if the telegram I had sent would reach the boys, and in my mind raised all kinds of difficulties, so that should they not be there, I might save myself the disappointment of waiting a few more hours.
It was a tense few moments, but soon I espied one peering into the carriages as he came along, and just then he caught sight of me, rushed along and in another minute the other joined us and in the midst of piled up luggage, irate porters calling to get out of the way, and the general confusion of a "special" arriving - I just found myself jumping for joy. Our waiting Taxi collected my luggage and packed in with arms linked we drove through the moonlit streets of London. I, feeling as though it was a beautiful dream from which there must come a rude awakening. Marble Arch, I remember, photographed itself on my mind - Hyde Park of familiar name they pointed out to me and between descriptions I was getting little bits of personal news.
It was not until we got to the Lyceum Club though and sat down to a cup of coffee in the Lounge, that I was able to gather my senses and take in some of what I wanted to know.